DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN-CHINA (S)
NUMBER=2-260359
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan President-elect Chen Shui-bian has for
the first time agreed to discuss with Chinese leaders
China's insistence that Taiwan accept the idea that
there is only one China. But, as VOA correspondent
Roger Wilkison reports, Mr. Chen says talks on that
issue and others can only proceed if China treats
Taiwan as an equal.
TEXT: Emerging from a meeting with one of his main
backers in Taiwan's business community, Mr. Chen
proposed a peace summit with Beijing and said he was
ready to discuss the "one China" issue. But he said
he would do so only if Beijing's interpretation of
"one China" were not a precondition nor the basis for
such talks.
Beijing has made it clear it will talk to Mr. Chen -
whose election it fiercely opposed due to his onetime
advocacy of independence - only if he acknowledges the
one-China principle.
Beijing's version of that principle is that there is
one China and that Taiwan is part of it. Taiwan has
always said that, although there is only one China, it
is a divided country ruled by two governments.
Mr. Chen has backed away from his pro-independence
stand and has pledged to seek reconciliation with
China. But his insistence on equality between the two
sides in any talks, is not likely to sit well in
Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a rebel province.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EW/FC
20-Mar-2000 05:01 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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