DATE=3/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN-CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-260210
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan has told Beijing to mind its own
business concerning the island's upcoming election.
Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports a top Taiwanese
official says Taiwan is a democracy and China has no
right to interfere in its affairs.
TEXT: The angry Taiwanese reply followed Chinese
Premier Zhu Rongji's warning to Taiwan's voters to
shun pro-independence candidates when they head to the
polls Saturday.
Without specifically mentioning his name, Mr. Zhu
aimed his fire at candidate Chen Shui-bian, a former
pro-independence firebrand who has since moderated his
stand, but whose party platform still supports
independence.
Although the island has enjoyed de-facto independence
for half a century, Beijing has threatened repeatedly
that any move toward formal independence will be met
by force.
Su Chi, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council
that deals with cross-strait relations, says the
election is a sovereign act of the Taiwanese people
and nobody has the right to interfere.
/// SU ACT ///
Mr. Zhu, among others, P-R-C officials,
the P-R-C government, have no right to
say anything about our election, about the
election itself, consequences, whatever.
They have no right to do so.
/// END ACT ///
Although the three-way presidential race is considered
too close to call, Taiwanese news media say that, in
recent days, Mr. Chen has pulled ahead of his rivals.
Mr. Su is a member of the ruling Nationalist Party
that Mr. Chen opposes. He says Mr. Chen still has the
right to advocate independence or say anything he
likes.
/// SU ACT ///
Mr. Chen has every right to say everything about
Taiwan independence because this is a democracy.
/// END ACT ///
Even though Mr. Chen has sought to quell fears among
voters that he might provoke Beijing, Nationalist
officials like Mr. Su have unleashed a barrage of
accusations against him. They have called him
dangerous and irresponsible and not the man to handle
relations with China.
/// SU ACT ///
We oppose vehemently what Mr. Chen says, even
though we believe he has the right to do so.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Su says that, if Mr. Chen wins the election, he
will have a hard time getting legislative support in
the Nationalist-dominated parliament and will not be
trusted by Beijing. He says that will make cross-
strait relations all the more difficult. (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/RAE
15-Mar-2000 09:16 AM EDT (15-Mar-2000 1416 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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