Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

TAIWAN WILL REVIEW POLICY AFTER CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW: OFFICIAL

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-07 23:34:31

    Taipei, March 7 (CNA) The government will review its policy toward China if it enacts an anti-secession law, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairman Joseph Wu said Monday.

    Calling the bill a show of "remarkable malice" against Taiwan, Wu said this cannot be ignored because of Chinese President Hu Jintao's seemingly gentle remarks about Taiwan March 4. "The Mainland Affairs Council cares more about what Chinese leaders are doing than what they are saying," he noted.

    Although the MAC has no idea what the exact text of the anti-secession law will be, information from various sources points to the fact that the wording of the law has been considerably softened by its author, apparently because of the serious concerns it has raised in the international community and Taiwan.

    The United States has played a significant role in the change, Wu said, noting that U.S. officials who disapprove of China's move amid an easing of tension across the Taiwan Strait had pressed China with harsh words to temper the hostility displayed in the decision to enact the law.

    Instead of telling his office how to change tack in response to the anti-secession law, the MAC chief said President Chen Shui-bian respects the MAC's authority and has given it a blank check to carry out reviews and adjustment.

    Wu, however, refused to reveal what changes will take place should China make the bill into law, saying it depends on the content of the law and that in any case the fundamental principles of seeking peace and development with China will not be changed.

(By Maubo Chang)

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