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No peace accord possible under 'one China' framework: president

ROC Central News Agency

2007-10-19 15:39:58

    Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian has again rejected Beijing's "one China" principle as the precondition for the establishment of a cross-Taiwan Strait peace accord, saying any agreements signed under such a principle would mean surrender for Taiwan.

    Chen made the remarks during an interview with the New York Times, which took place Thursday in Taipei, during which he was asked to comment on a recent peace overture by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

    During Monday's meeting of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu called for the formation of a framework for peaceful development of cross-strait relations "on the basis of the one China principle, " which has been characterized as a proposal for a cross-strait peace agreement.

    Chen told the paper that although Taiwan has always welcomed the idea of signing a peace accord with China, the country opposes any preconditions or framework being set and any conclusions being reached prior to discussing an agreement, according to the transcript of the interview released Friday by the Presidential Office. "We are even more opposed to missile threats or the use of non-peaceful means or military force to coerce any party into signing a peace accord," Chen said.

    Against this backdrop, Chen outlined the three conditions that would need to be met before the two sides could start any discussion on the proposed accord.

    They are namely that China openly renounce the use of force against Taiwan, that China repeal its Anti-Secession Law against Taiwan, and that China give up the notion of the "one China" framework, Chen said.

    Chen stressed that Taiwan is a country independent of China and that accepting the "one China" principle "would spell the end of Taiwan as an independent, sovereign country."

    On the country's plan to hold a referendum on applying to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan, which has met strong opposition from the United States, Chen reiterated that holding such a referendum does not involve changing the country's official name or violating his "four noes" pledges to the United States.

    The president said that although the referendum will be of no help to Taiwan's bid to become a U.N. member, it remains the most direct and democratic way for the country's 23 million people to express to the world their strong aspiration for U.N. membership. "The point is that we want our collective voice to be heard by the whole world. The 23 million people of Taiwan will not be silenced just because of China's military intimidation, its missiles pointed at use, its coercion and its threats," he said.

    According to Chen, joining the United Nations would boost Taiwan's economy, because the country could then hold talks freely with countries around the world for the signing of free trade agreements and take part in all organizations under the U.N. umbrella, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

(By Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM/Li