• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NO FIXED TIMETABLE FOR CROSS-STRAIT UNIFICATION: KMT CHAIRMAN

ROC Central News Agency

2006-02-14 21:12:41

    London, Feb. 13 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou said in London Monday that his party has no "fixed timetable" for Taiwan's unification with China, claiming that it is not a pressing issue for either side.

    Since Taiwan is already a fully fledged democracy, any changes to the country's status quo must be approved by its people, Ma said in a speech titled "Bridging The Divide: A Vision for Peace in East Asia" at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

    To create favorable conditions for eventual unification between Taiwan and China, Taiwan's status as a democratic political entity must be fully respected and its equal partner status in cross-strait negotiations under the "one China" framework fully recognized, Ma said.

    This would create huge political challenges for both Taiwan and China and this is why he urged both sides to resume negotiations, he explained.

    As China is increasingly evolving into a more open and prosperous society, Ma said that Taiwan's experience could serve as a significant development reference for China, adding that it is time for the two sides to build a new and constructive relationship and engage in creating mutual benefits and prosperity.

    When the overall political, economic and social conditions on both sides are matched, unification would be an option for Taiwan people to consider, he said.

    But he pointed out that some political figures in Taiwan are trying to pursue what he described as Taiwan's "split" by fanning an arms races with China and fueling ethnic disputes at home. They are also promoting a new constitution and seeking to whip up nationalist resentment between the two sides in order to "sever" Taiwan's links with China, he added.

    These moves will bring about a war across the strait that will destroy Taiwan and hobble China's modernization efforts, he claimed.

    The United States and Japan would be dragged into such a scenario, dealing a further blow to peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world, he warned.

    Saying that it is vital for Taiwan to maintain its democracy and free economy, he added that a secessionist ideology will never serve that purpose. He called for conciliation between Taiwan and China through negotiations to secure Taiwan's democracy and prosperity and said that protecting the country's democratic achievements should not linked to split-minded movement.

    Ma is currently on a six-day visit to London in his capacity as mayor of Taipei.

(By C.C. Huang and Flor Wang)

ENDITEM/J