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BEIJING 'SOFT' APPROACH CANNOT HIDE MISSILES TARGETING TAIWAN

2003-12-26 18:52:31

    Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) The public should be on guard against mainland China's "united front" tactics, as its latest "soft" approach toward Taiwan cannot conceal the fact that it has deployed nearly 500 missiles targeting Taiwan, a government official said Friday.

    Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Chia-lung made the remarks after mainland Chinese President Hu Jintao's first meeting with presidents of Taiwan businessmen's associations in the mainland the previous day during which Hu said he would make every effort to seek the peaceful unification of China and offered a "three ifs" scenario.

    The "three ifs" means that if things are favorable toward Taiwan businessmen investing in the mainland, if things are favorable to cross-strait economic, technological and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and if things are favorable toward the development of cross-strait relations and national unification, then Beijing will do its utmost to promote them.

    Lin urged the public to see clearly that Beijing is trying to use Taiwan businessmen to zero in on politicians.

    He said that from the experience of the past few years, one can see that whenever there is a presidential election in Taiwan, Beijing will resort to every means to try to influence the elections. The saber-rattling in the run-up to the 1996 presidential election by lobbing missiles into the sea near Taiwan and the stern verbal attacks prior to the 2000 presidential election and the recent "soft" approach toward Taiwan are all examples of this, he said.

    He criticized Beijing for the underlying threat in its attempts to woo, saying "soft talk does not conceal the fact that nearly 500 missiles are pointed at Taiwan. If mainland China won't remove them, then it has no right to talk about peace, as Taiwan people won't believe them."

    Lin noted that former Japanese Premier Yoshiro Mori visited Taiwan Thursday, prompting a harsh statement from mainland China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Beijing's opposition to a visit from a retired Japanese premier is evidence that Beijing's attempts to squeeze Taiwan internationally have not changed in any way despite its apparent softer tone. "We cannot accept the unfriendliness of mainland China trying to stop Taiwan from developing relations with other political leaders, " he said.

    He said that President Chen Shui-bian insists on protecting the interests of the nation and the people. His advocacy of "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait" and a "defensive referendum" are aimed at protecting the people, Lin said, adding that only a strong nation can command respect.

    He also urged the mainland to put forward not only words, but also action to show goodwill toward developing cross-strait relations, saying that actions speak louder than words.

(By Lilian Wu)

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