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Taipei, March 31 (CNA) A local political observer suggested Saturday that Taiwan enhance its relations with the United States as the island's security hinges largely on its "substantial alliance" with the superpower.

Kao Ying-mao, a member of the Advisory Committee of the National Security Council, made the remarks at a Taipei symposium on Taiwan's security. The symposium was sponsored by the Taiwan Research Institute, a local think tank.

He said that Taiwan's current practice of purchasing weapons from the United States might change if mainland China stops its military threat against the island. However, he added, Beijing's refusal to renounce the use of force makes it necessary for Taiwan to continue buying arms and seeking to strengthen ties with the United States and Japan.

Kao also said that Taiwan could play the "globalization," "liberalization," and "democratization" cards, as world trends are moving in Taiwan's favor.

He said that cross-strait differences will be substantially narrowed if Beijing can also move in compliance with the trends.

On the "one China" dispute between Taiwan and the mainland, Kao said it would be better for both sides to shelve the controversy and return to the negotiating table to find consensus in this regard.

He said that top negotiators on both sides - Chairman Koo Chen-fu of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and his mainland counterpart, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Wang Daohan - made great contributions to promoting cross-strait ties with their historic Singapore meeting in 1993.

Kao urged Koo and Wang, both now in their 80's, to meet again in order to help bring cross-strait ties back onto a normal track. Talks between Taiwan and the mainland have been suspended since former President Lee Teng-hui redefined cross-strait relations as a "special state-to-state¡¨ relationship in 1999.

Koo said Friday at a meeting of the SEF board of directors and supervisors that the first half of this year will be the best time for both sides to resume talks and that he is willing to visit the mainland and meet Wang again for "constructive" dialogue. (By Bear Lee)