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BEIJING URGED TO TAKE ACTION TO CONTRIBUTE TO CROSS-STRAIT PEACE

2003-12-26 19:45:20

    Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) The government is happy to see that both sides of the Taiwan Strait think highly of Taiwan businessmen, but hopes that mainland China will take substantive action to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, Presidential Office Secretary-General Chiou I-jen said Friday.

    Chiou was responding to mainland Chinese President Hu Jintao's remarks the previous day when he received the presidents of Taiwan businessmen's associations in mainland China and told them he will make every effort to achieve the peaceful unification of China. "Our cross-strait policy remains steady," Chiou said, adding that President Chen Shui-bian has said repeatedly that his advocacy of "one country on each side of Taiwan Strait, " and "defensive referendum" are not attempts to change the status quo and have nothing to do with Taiwan independence, nor are they provocations. They are intended to strengthen Taiwan's democracy and maintain peace in the region, Chiou said, which is "our basic stance," although mainland China might have a different interpretation. "We don't want to change the status quo," Chiou said.

    The government has released more than 20 substantive polices over the past three years to improve cross-strait relations, averaging almost one policy every two months, he went on, citing the direct trade, postal and transportation links between the Republic of China-controlled islands of Kinmen and Matsu and various mainland ports, allowing mainland journalists to be stationed in Taiwan and allowing mainland spouses of Taiwan nationals to obtain work permits.

    Chiou said that "we have displayed substantive efforts to improve cross-strait relations" and "we hope that Hu, after his statement, can really do something along the lines of the more-than 20 policies we have implemented." "Both sides should work toward improving cross-strait relations," Chiou said, adding that "Taiwan's unilateral efforts cannot ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait."

    He expressed hope that Beijing will take substantive action and that recent reports about the mainland authorities rounding up Taiwan spies and clamping down on tax-evading Taiwan businessmen, which has caused uneasiness among Taiwan businessmen, are only rumors.

(By Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J