DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN-CHINA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262684
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Taiwan's new government has indicated that it
wants to talk to China before - not after - accepting
Beijing's "one China" principle. V-O-A correspondent
Roger Wilkison reports from Taipei that the island's
top official in charge of relations with China says
Taiwan needs to jointly work out acceptable
definitions of "one China" with Beijing.
TEXT: Semantics play a large part in cross-strait
relations. Beijing has demanded that Taiwan accept
its definition of "one China," with its corollary that
the island is an inseparable part of China, before the
two sides can engage in talks.
On Monday, a senior Chinese official told reporters in
Beijing that each side could define its own version of
what "one China" means so that the two sides can get
on with the urgent business of cross-strait talks
leading to negotiations on reunification. /// OPT ///
The official also acknowledged that it is impossible
for Taiwan to accept another corollary of Beijing's
one China definition - that the People's Republic of
China is the sole legitimate government of all of
China, including Taiwan. /// END OPT ///
In 1992, the two sides agreed that each would have its
own definition of "one China," thus paving the way for
groundbreaking semi-official talks in Singapore a year
later and in China in 1998. But the talks were frozen
after former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui defined
relations as between two equal states.
On Tuesday, Tsai Ing-wen, the new head of Taiwan's
Mainland Affairs Council, seemed to indicate that
talks between the two sides should come first so that
Taipei could have a clearer idea of just what kind of
"one China" definition would be acceptable to both
sides.
/// TSAI ACTUALITY ///
That's why we have been saying that it's
essential for both sides to sit down to talk to
see what sort of definition or meanings we can
develop for that term. And then, we will have a
round of exercises to assess the possible risk
associated with it. And then, we sit down and
make our own decision as to whether we like it
or not.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
In his inaugural address Saturday, Taiwan's new
president, Chen Shui-bian - a former advocate of
independence for Taiwan - offered to create what he
called an era of reconciliation with China and pledged
not to declare independence except in the event of a
Chinese attack. China called him insincere but did
not use the bellicose rhetoric it had employed before
and after his election. Miss Tsai says she has been
encouraged by China's reaction to the speech.
/// TSAI ACTUALITY ///
There's a significance in their response and in
the speed at which they responded to us. So we
would tend to read the message positively, and
we do hope that this would set the stage for the
furtherance of the relationship.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
On Sunday, President Chen said he was willing to
consider opening direct trade and transportation links
with the Chinese mainland. But Miss Tsai says there
are certain hurdles to overcome first.
/// TSAI ACTUALITY ///
We'd like the cross-straits situation to
stabilize first, and, second, we wish to see a
healthy political environment being built. And
then, we would like to have an opportunity to
sit down with them and talk about the issue.
What is important is that they need to know that
we are prepared and we have good intentions to
carry out the process with them.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Miss Tsai says peace in the Taiwan Strait and the
island's security are the new government's top
priorities. (Signed)
NEB/HK/RW/JO/KL
23-May-2000 08:25 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1225 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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