DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN-ONE CHINA
NUMBER=5-46339
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: There is widespread interest in what Taiwan
President-elect Chen Shui-bian will say Saturday in
his inaugural speech about the island's turbulent
relationship with China. Correspondent Roger Wilkison
reports from Taipei that Mr. Chen's advisors say he
will continue to make conciliatory statements toward
Beijing, but will not acknowledge that Taiwan is part
of China, as Beijing insists he must.
TEXT: All week, Beijing has been threatening Taiwan
with disastrous consequences if Mr. Chen fails to
acknowledge that there is only one China and that
Taiwan is part of it. Beijing will be listening
attentively for concessions in Mr. Chen's inaugural
speech, but it is warning that conciliatory words like
those spoken by the new leader since he won office in
March are not enough.
Beijing publicly says its bottom line is Mr. Chen's
acceptance of its - one China - principle.
China does not trust Mr. Chen because he was once a
strong advocate of Taiwan's formal independence. His
Democratic Progressive Party's platform still contains
a clause calling for a popular referendum on whether
or not the island should go its own way. But Mr. Chen
backed away from that position before the election,
saying such a poll should be held only in the event of
a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
Mr. Chen's aides are not saying exactly what the
speech will include. But Bi-Khim Hsiao - who heads
the party's International Affairs Department and is
considered a close advisor to the President-elect -
says Beijing will not get what it is demanding.
/// HSIAO ACT ///
As the popularly elected president, or the
leader of this country, naturally President Chen
Shui-bian must respect the popular will of the
people, and that is the people at this point do
not accept "one China." There have been a
series of popular opinion polls taken recently
asking whether or not he should accept the "one
China" principle. And the popular answer is
"no."
/// END ACT ///
Miss Hsiao argues that the Taiwanese people cannot
accept the "one China" principle because they do not
know what they will gain from it.
/// HSIAO ACT ///
So far, Beijing has not done its job of
explaining to Taiwan what is good about "one
China," what will the Taiwanese people gain by
accepting "one China." And before the Taiwanese
people can be convinced, Mr. Chen Shui-bian has
reiterated that he is willing and open to
discussion of "one China." "One China" can be
an issue, but by no means a pre-condition to
talks.
/// END ACT ///
Although China has not governed Taiwan since the
Communists swept to power 51-years ago, Beijing has
made the island's recovery a national priority since
the return of Hong Kong and Macau. The "one China"
principle is acknowledged by all but 30 or so
countries.
Parris Chang is a legislator who represents Mr. Chen's
Democratic Progressive Party and an expert on defense
and international relations. He says Mr. Chen was
elected because he pledged to carry out needed
domestic reforms. In Mr. Chang's view, Mr. Chen - as
a president without a congressional majority - needs
breathing space in cross-strait relations so that he
can build a legislative coalition to pass his reforms.
But Mr. Chang fears Mr. Chen may be going too far in
trying to appease China.
/// CHANG ACT ///
Of course, he has to do something to appease
China, but he can only do that much. And there
are already people here in the country saying
that "you are doing too much", because Beijing
is not going to be satisfied just by what you
are doing. You have to give away all the store,
and that you cannot do. People will not allow
you to do that.
/// END ACT ///
Beijing has offered Taiwan more autonomy under the so-
called one country-two systems formula than it has
granted Hong Kong and Macau, even offering to allow
the island to keep its own armed forces. But Mr.
Chang says Taiwan cannot give up its de-facto
sovereignty to become part of China.
/// CHANG ACT ///
Beijing will not be satisfied until Taiwan
becomes another Hong Kong, that is, Taiwan
becomes a Special Administrative region of
China. If Taiwan remains a sovereign entity, no
matter what Chen Shui-bian has to say Beijing
would not be satisfied over the long run. And
we have to understand what Beijing wants, which
unfortunately we cannot give, because we are
already a sovereign country.
/// END ACT ///
Although Beijing has long considered Taiwan a
breakaway province, it has extended an olive branch to
the island by offering it equal status in talks - but
with the proviso that Taiwan admit that it is part of
China. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/RW/JO/RAE
18-May-2000 09:06 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1306 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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