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CHINA ADOPTS 'CARROT-AND-STICK' APPROACH TOWARD TAIWAN: MAC HEAD

ROC Central News Agency

2006-04-10 15:42:19

    Taipei, April 10 (CNA) China has adopted a new "double-handed strategy" toward Taiwan, the nation's top China policy charter said Monday.

    Joseph Wu, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, made the remarks when he and his deputy, You Ying-lung, were invited by the opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) legislative caucus to report on an upcoming economic forum between the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) April 14-17.

    The forum is part of a five-point agreement reached between KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan and Chinese President Hu Jintao during their meeting in Beijing April 29, 2005, when Lien was still KMT chairman. The upcoming forum will discuss cross-Taiwan Strait trade and economy, transportation links, agriculture, tourism and finance.

    Wu said that Beijing has "become softer" in trying to court Taiwan people, although the softness is only words, "most of which are fake."

    On the other hand, China has "become harder" in its high-handed manner toward Taiwan, referring to its relentless diplomatic stifling and continuing military buildup.

    Wu said China's "united front strategy" to drive a wedge into Taiwan society is an attempt to "maneuver Taiwan political parties to marginalize the Taiwan government."

    He noted that the KMT and the CPC, while discussing cross-strait charter flights, cannot "rule out the participation of the government" as the issue involves government authority.

    If the two parties were to attempt to circumvent the government and reach an agreement on behalf of Taiwan, "it would be basically illegal," he noted.

    You echoed Wu's words, pointing out that any agreement reached between the KMT and the CPC involving government authority, policial issues or cross-strait cooperation, should conform with the Statute Governing the Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, or will be invalid and non-binding.

    Wu also said that China has told the heads of Taiwan businessmen's associations in China to attend the KMT-CPC forum and has instructed that if they cannot attend, they must take a leave of absence or instruct deputies to attend on their behalf. "I cannot agree with this way of forcing Taiwan businessmen to attend," he said.

(By Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J