DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN / CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-260367
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwanese President-elect Chen Shui-bian has
extended an olive branch to China, saying he is
willing to discuss the "one China" issue with
Beijing's leaders -- as long as it is neither a
condition nor the basis for peace talks. And, as V-O-
A Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports from Taipei,
Mr. Chen insists Taiwan be treated as an equal in any
negotiations.
TEXT: For Mr. Chen to say he is willing to discuss
the "one China" issue is a major change. The
president-elect backed away from his espousal of
formal independence for Taiwan during the campaign --
saying the issue was moot because Taiwan is already
independent anyway. But now, in an effort to reach
out to Beijing, he has said for the first time that he
is willing to at least discuss the one-China idea.
China -- which launched a barrage of fierce rhetoric
against Mr. Chen before his election -- says it is
watching and listening to what he does and says. And
it has made clear it will talk to him as long as he
accepts the one-China principle. In Beijing's
interpretation, that means there is only one China and
that Taiwan is part of it. Taipei has long maintained
China is one country but a divided one, ruled by two
governments.
Mr. Chen's remark was made as he emerged from a
meeting with one of his major backers in the business
community. A top aide to the president-elect later
spelled out Mr. Chen's views on the matter. Bi-khim
Hsiao -- the head of the victorious Democratic
Progressive Party's Department of International
Affairs -- says Mr. Chen is willing to talk with
Beijing about any issue.
//HSIAO ACTUALITY//
We are open to discussions with the only pre-
condition, or the only principle, that talks must take
place on an equal basis. We insist on parity. We
also insist that any change in the status quo or any
ultimate resolution arranged through negotiations must
have the consent of the people. But we are open to
discussion on any issue Beijing proposes.
//END ACTUALITY//
Miss Hsiao says her party is reassured that China has
exercised restraint and patience toward Mr. Chen since
he was elected Saturday, with 39 percent of the vote
in a three-candidate field. She says it is essential
to overcome the suspicion between Beijing and her
party -- which still has a platform advocating
independence, despite Mr. Chen's backtracking on that
issue.
Mr. Chen's campaign manager -- Chou I-jen -- says the
president-elect will be seeking clarification of
Beijing's concept of the one-China principle. He says
Beijing, alone, cannot decide whether or not Taiwan is
a part of China. He says Taiwan and the Taiwanese
people must also have a say in the matter.
China claims Taiwan as a wayward province, although
the Communists, who have ruled the mainland since
1949, have never governed the island. Taiwan's
Nationalist rulers, whom Mr. Chen defeated at the
polls, call the island the Republic of China.
Mr. Chen's insistence on parity with Beijing in any
talks is not likely to go down well with China's
leaders, who were infuriated when outgoing Taiwanese
president Lee Teng-hui redefined Taiwan-China ties
last year as special state-to-state relations.
(signed)
NEB/RW/GC/WD
20-Mar-2000 07:16 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1216 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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