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LIEN HOPES TO MAKE 'DIGNIFIED JOURNEY OF PEACE' TO MAINLAND CHINA

2004-03-17 19:18:18

    Taipei, March 17 (CNA) The opposition "pan-blue alliance" presidential candidate said Wednesday that if he wins this weekend's hotly contested election, he hopes to make a "journey of peace" to mainland China before he formally takes office May 20.

    Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan made the remarks at a news conference attended by more than 600 foreign reporters. Cross-Taiwan Strait relations was the main concern of the journalists, who come from major countries around the world to cover Taiwan's third direct presidential election and its first-ever nationwide referendum to be held simultaneously.

    Lien, a former vice president, stressed that he would embark on the proposed mainland visit only under the principles of "equality, parity and dignity." "It will be a fact-finding journey, " Lien said. "I have yet to work out an agenda for talks if the planned 'journey of peace' can take place."

    Basically, Lien said, he hopes to convey to mainland Chinese leaders the Taiwan people's desire for peace. "I would let them understand that Taiwan is a peace-loving country and is unlikely to invade any other country."

    Lien said he would also take advantage of the trip to urge the mainland authorities to freeze the number of missiles it has deployed against Taiwan and then gradually remove all of the missiles from the southeastern mainland coast opposite Taiwan to facilitate cross-strait rapprochement and cooperation.

    He also reaffirmed the pan-blue alliance's "Taiwan first" basic stance on the development of cross-strait relations. "While engaging mainland China, we must insist that the term 'one China' refers to the Republic of China. The ROC is an independent sovereign country. We must uphold the ROC's national identity. Then the people of Taiwan will have real equal development opportunities with mainland China," Lien explained.

    Saying that cross-strait sovereignty disputes are the result of history and should be resolved by history, Lien added that such disputes should be put aside to make room for the two sides to address many practical issues, such as the establishment of direct shipping and air links, cross-strait economic cooperation and forging a secure and stable living environment.

    Lien noted that mainland leaders once said that direct cross-strait transportation links are an economic issue that should not be affected by political disputes. "Against this backdrop, the two sides might be able to address the direct transportation issue without touching on the thorny 'one China' principle," Lien said optimistically.

    He further pointed out that Beijing's diplomatic embargo against Taiwan has long been a source of frustration for the people of Taiwan. "If I win the presidency, my administration will resume dialogue with Beijing and negotiate a mutually acceptable format for both sides to simultaneously sit in major international organizations. It may not be easy for Taiwan to join the United Nations, but I think that such U.N. affiliated organizations as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank would have no reason to continue rejecting our membership applications," Lien said, adding that Taiwan, with its economic strength, can contribute much to world society if it is admitted to the World Bank and other U.N. affiliates.

    Lien said his administration would also forge even closer ties with the United States and Japan. If the "pan-blue alliance" of the KMT and People First Party were to take the helm, Lien said, Taiwan would not create "too many unexpected events" in the international community.

    He was referring to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party administration's insistence on holding a referendum on missile defense and relations with the mainland alongside the March 20 presidential poll. The unprecedented referendum has drawn concern from the United States and other countries worried that the move might provoke Beijing, which has blasted the referendum as a plot to promote Taiwan independence.

    Lien has teamed up with PFP Chairman James Soong to challenge President Chen Shui-bian's re-election bid. Both campaigns claim that the race is too close to call.

    Also fielding questions at the news conference, Soong said the election marks an important milestone for Chinese people in Asia. He said the "pan-blue alliance's" underlying cross-strait policy is to avoid any military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait. "We want to resolve issues through peaceful means. We want to shelve sovereignty disputes and promote economic, social and cultural exchanges to minimize unnecessary misunderstandings," Soong said.

(By Sofia Wu)

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