Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Vice President Lien Chan on Monday called for a new mindset and a new approach to handling cross-strait relations in the new millennium.
Lien made the remarks at the Taipei Foreign Corespondents Club during a press conference dominated by the issues of cross-strait relations and the impending presidential election.
Lien, the presidential candidate of the ruling Kuomintang, speaking in Mandarin and English to nearly 200 journalists, reiterated President Lee Teng-hui's statement on cross-strait ties being "special state-to-state" relations, which has infuriated Beijing, adding that it is a "national, not a personal, policy."
Lien affirmed that this is the "constant position of the country" -- a description of fact that does not "add or subtract anything from the present mainland policy."
Asked how to reconcile the concept of "one China" with the issue of Taiwan's sovereignty, Lien stressed that the Republic of China has been a sovereign state since 1912, and is not a "local authority" as claimed by the mainland.
But he said that there are different views of "one China," and that in the new millennium, there should be a new approach and a new mindset so as to allow room for different interpretations of the term.
He said that "parity and goodwill" are very important in cross-strait dialogue so as to help create a mutually beneficial situation.
Lien said that when the time is ripe, both sides could talk about anything, and that he hopes Wang Daohan, mainland China's top negotiator, could visit Taiwan soon after the March 18 presidential election.
He also stressed that he and his running mate Vincent Siew are the most experienced among the five presidential tickets in dealing with mainland China, citing many examples of himself and Siew dealing with the mainland while serving in various posts, including the arrangement of groundbreaking high-level cross-strait talks in Singapore in 1993.
Dispelling speculation that he would toe President Lee's line, Lien reaffirmed that he will pursue his own path, stressing that if elected, he will "have the full responsibility and power" to handle top policy issues concerning national security and the welfare of the people.
But he also said that as he and President Lee are of the same parity, it would be "natural" for him to consult Lee and many others when dealing with major national issues.
Saying that Lee is a seasoned statesman and an agricultural development specialist and that many countries have thought of inviting him to be an adviser, Lien said he would "rely on" Lee in this respect.
He denied that there is a problem of "splintering" within the KMT, saying that he was nominated by the party and obtained the endorsement of 97 percent of KMT delegates in a party congress.
Lien was asked whether he thought P.K. Chiang, chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, was smearing Chen Shui-bian when he said that the stock market will face a free fall if the winner of the election is Chen, the candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which has called for Taiwan independence.
Lien responded that he personally does not agree fully with Chiang's words, saying that the remark must be considered in the context of the current fierce campaign. He also stressed his view that to champion Taiwan independence is "risky" and "irresponsible," and will bring "disaster" to the island.
Regarding the nation's future, Lien envisions a Taiwan that will upgrade itself in a new wave of reforms which will see a just, secure and perennially developing society. (By Lilian Wu)
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