Washington, Oct. 16 (CNA) The following is an English translation of the text of an interview with Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian by Juergen Kremb and Andreas Lorenz of Der Spiegel, a leading German news weekly.
The text was provided by the U.S. Foreign Broadcast Information Service, which collects and translates articles on political, economic, technological and military topics published daily by news media around the world for the reference of U.S. government officials and contract workers. [FBIS Translated Text]
[Der Spiegel] Mr. President, are you Chinese or Taiwanese?
[Chen] I was born Taiwanese and a citizen of the Republic of China. At the same time, I am proud of my identity as a(n) (ethnic) Chinese. The people on both sides of the Straits of Taiwan are distinguished by a common culture, a common language, and a common history. We are an important part of the Chinese community.
[Der Spiegel] Even though there have been milder tones recently, Beijing still threatens to bring about reunification by force if you declare the island's independence. How great is the danger of war?
[Chen] I do not see any immediate danger. As long as the PRC does not take violent action against Taiwan, I will not declare independence. Nor will I change the name of our state from the Republic of China to the Republic of Taiwan. I will not schedule a referendum, which would change the current status, and I will not propagate the two-states theory. However, the will of 23 million Taiwanese on shaping their future must be respected on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
[Der Spiegel] The leadership in Beijing is putting pressure of time on you: if Taiwan were to delay negotiations on reunification for too long, this would also be a reason for attack, they say. Do you still have any leeway at all?
[Chen] We know that we have to master a lot of difficulties. However, Taiwan's strength lies in its strategic location in the Pacific area. The constant threat of force by the Chinese leadership cannot rattle us. The latest elections proved this. Threatening gestures just take the mainland and Taiwan farther apart.
[Der Spiegel] Would the People's Liberation Army actually be able to conquer Taiwan?
[Chen] Currently, the greatest threat is posed by the more than 400 short-, intermediate-, and long-range missiles that have been stationed on the mainland. With its air force and its shore units, the PRC can, however, not engage in a successful invasion.
[Der Spiegel] But Beijing is aggressively rearming.
[Chen] We can still defend ourselves. If the Communists were to try to occupy Taiwan, we would launch counterattacks. We would mobilize the entire population. Studies by the U.S. Pentagon assume, however, that the strategic balance in the Straits of Taiwan might change after 2005.
[Der Spiegel] Do you expect help from other countries?
[Chen] Taiwan's security is inseparably linked with the stability of the entire region. It is in the interests of all Pacific states, in particular, however, of Japan and the United States, to guarantee our security.
[Der Spiegel] Washington seems to be rather unwilling at the moment to equip your military with new warships and antimissile systems.
[Chen] Victory or defeat in a conflict depends on the will to fight, on the kind of war, the quality of weapons and soldiers, and, above all, on the solidarity of the people. With regard to the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States committed itself to equipping us with the necessary weapons. [Der Spiegel] This law can be interpreted differently.
[Chen] The point is not whether we get this weapons system or that one; the point is Washington's security guarantee in the Asian area. The fact that the Americans stand by this was proved most recently in 1996, when the Communist leaders held maneuvers and the United States sent aircraft carriers to the Taiwan Strait.
[Der Spiegel] Do you really believe that the United States would risk a war with Beijing to guarantee Taiwan's future. China is an emerging economic power, with whom nobody likes to butt heads.
[Chen] It is not just Taiwan that is involved in this matter, but also the strategic interests of the United States. China's missiles are also aimed at the United States.
[Der Spiegel] So far, Beijing has not reacted to your offer to meet President Jiang Zemin. The government there insists that you recognize the "One-China Principle," according to which Taiwan is only a Chinese province. You reject this. Where do you see possibilities for a compromise?
[Chen] So far, we have demonstrated great flexibility. We hope that the Chinese authorities will give up their preconditions and initiate a new era of relations together with us. I am willing to work out with the other side a definition of the expression "One China." However, all talks must preserve the principles of equality and democracy.
[Der Spiegel] Your predecessor Li Teng-hui characterized the relationship with the mainland as a "special state-to-state relationship," thus outraging the Communist Chinese. Do you stick to that?
[Chen] I am Chen Shui-bian and not Li Teng-hui. We use new tones.
[Der Spiegel] Parts of your Democratic Progress Party continue to strive for Taiwan's independence. How do you want to satisfy them?
[Chen] The Constitution obligates me to preserve our national security, sovereignty, and dignity. I stress that national interests go before party interests. I did not become president to give Taiwan for free to mainland China. The 23 million people of Taiwan would not permit this, either.
[Der Spiegel] Recently, you spoke of "two, three, and even innumerable possibilities" for future relations with the mainland. What were you thinking of specifically?
[Chen] At the moment no side is subordinate to the other. We have formed a working group that will soon submit specific proposals on the issue of reunification.
[Der Spiegel] So far, your government has even banned direct trade, transport, and postal links with the mainland. All goods must be shipped via Hong Kong, Macao, or other countries. When will this change?
[Chen] We are willing to discuss this with Beijing. We want to normalize economic relations with the mainland on the basis of reciprocity and respect of market principles. We will soon establish direct trade relations between the mainland and the Taiwanese islands of Quemoy and Matsu. However, our security must be ensured. At the moment, the problem is not us but the Chinese leadership, who do not want to talk with us.
[Der Spiegel] Taiwan will soon join the WTO -- but this presupposes free trade among the members. This means, you have to take action.
[Chen] We hope that, after joining the WTO, the leadership in Beijing will become more open to the world, more liberal, and that democratization will make progress. This will promote the expansion of direct trade relations. However, WTO membership does not automatically mean for us that we must permit direct contacts.
[Der Spiegel] You have struggled for a democratic Taiwan for a long time and you have also made personal sacrifices. However, most countries, including Germany, do not recognize your country. Does this hurt you?
[Chen] No. It is more important to check our own position than to accuse other countries of being unfair. Perhaps, however, in the future we will have to struggle with greater toughness for recognition by the international community.
[Der Spiegel] How can you free yourself from the isolation?
[Chen] We want to expand our international activities. Among other things, we will work more for human rights at the international level, participate more intensively in nongovernmental organizations, and grant development and economic aid to Third World countries more frequently.
[Der Spiegel] In Parliament you do not have a majority, and the business leaders do not seem to trust you. Since you assumed office in May, stock exchange prices have plummeted by more than 30 %.
[Chen] NASDAQ, the US technology index, has also gone down. I am confident about Taiwan's future. (By Jay Chen)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
