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GUIDELINES FOR NATIONAL UNIFICATION WILL NOT BE ABROGATED: MAC HEAD

Aug 02, 2002 21:47 UTC+0800

Taipei, Aug.2 (CNA) The Executive Yuan has no intention of nullifying the Guidelines for National Unification, Chairwoman of the Mainland Affairs Council Tsai Ing-wen said Friday in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

However, Tsai said, changes in the political climate since the guidelines were created in 1991 make it impossible for the government to follow the guidelines to the letter.

For example, Tsai said the guidelines limit the government to exploring the possibility of opening direct transportation and trade links with mainland China only after Beijing renounces the use of force against Taiwan, but Taipei is now preparing for such links although Beijing maintains its stance.

Speaking to a group of lawmaker's aides, Tsai said any attempt to abrogate the guidelines will open a Pandora's box and lead to divisive debate within society.

She defended President Chen Shui-bian's right to declare July 30 that the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) 1999 resolution on Taiwan's future would be the supreme guideline on policy toward mainland China, saying that it is natural for a head of state to make clear the fundamental principles of his government's policy.

Just how to translate the finer points of the DPP resolution, which said Taiwan is an independent state, namely the Republic of China, and any change to the situation should be done with the consent of all the people of Taiwan, still has to be discussed with the DPP and the president, Tsai said.

(By Maubo Chang)