Taipei, Feb. 21 (CNA) An aide to Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Su Chi said on Monday that the MAC will not make an instant comment on the "one China principle and the Taiwan issue" white paper just issued by Beijing.
The sternly worded white paper warns Taiwan not to seek independence or to indefinitely delay negotiations for a peaceful unification, at risk of military invasion.
The MAC official said that the white paper is an obvious attempt by Beijing to influence Taiwan's March 18 presidential election, and added that the MAC will not respond until a careful study of the 11,000-word document has been carried out.
Government sources said that Beijing might take more action to put pressure on Taiwan before election day, including a possible statement by mainland Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
It is understood that the Taipei government has worked out a set of strategies to meet any political, economic or military emergencies so as to ensure a smooth election.
The Beijing white paper threatens the use of force if Taiwan declares independence or if it is "invaded by foreigners."
It also states that "if the Taiwan authorities indefinitely refuse to peacefully settle the reunification issue through dialogue, the Chinese government will be forced to adopt all possible drastic measures, including military force."
However, Chang Jung-kung, director of the ruling Kuomintang's Mainland Affairs Department, said in Bangkok that the white paper contains no new substance, and is apparently designed to try to influence the cross-Taiwan Strait policies of the five presidential candidates, as well as spell out its firm stand on the Taiwan issue.
Chang, who was visiting Bangkok to explain the mainland policy of the KMT's presidential election ticket of Lien Chan-Vincent Siew to the local Chinese community, said that Taiwan and the mainland have not unified yet, and therefore have different views on the "one China" principle.
He expressed the hope that Beijing will return to the 1993 consensus which allowed differing interpretations of the "one China" principle by each side of the strait.
Meanwhile, Chang Wu-yueh, director of the Institute for Mainland China Affairs at Tamkang University, said that the new paper contains nothing new, and has a paradox in its "one China" principle.
He said that the main purpose for Beijing issuing the paper at the present time is an attempt to caution against Taiwan independence during the election campaign and to pave the way for peace talks after the election.
The paper notes that "anything can be taken up for discussion under the one China principle," while reiterating that "Taiwan is part of China, and the PRC is the sole legitimate government," which Chang described as a paradox.
He also said that Taiwan's indefinite refusal to engage in peace talks is listed in the white paper as a condition under which Beijing will use force, and added that he believes Beijing will place more focus on this point in the future. (By Victor Lai)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
