China must face up to Taiwan's democracy: MAC official
ROC Central News Agency
2008-04-17 19:00:30
Washington, April 16 (CNA) Taiwan's democracy is very valuable in cross-Taiwan Strait relations, and Beijing has to adjust its policy in view of Taiwan's achievements in democratization, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Tung Chen-yuan said Wednesday.
Tung made the remarks while giving a speech on post-election ties between Taiwan and mainland China during a seminar at a cultural center in the U.S. state of Maryland.
The seminar was sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and attended by more than 100 Taiwanese expatriates living in the greater Washington area.
Although Beijing seems willing to give Taiwan's incoming Kuomintang (KMT) government greater space by not mentioning its "one China" principle in recent days, Tung said, the Chinese government still has to face up to the existence of the RepublIc of China (Taiwan) if it wants to make substantial progress in bilateral negotiations.
President-elect Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT beat the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) rival, Frank Hsieh, in Taiwan's March 22 presidential election, helping the KMT return to power after eight years of DPP rule.
As Ma will assume the presidency on May 20, Tung said, Beijing needs to gear its approach toward Taipei because of the new situation emerging in Taiwan.
Since 2000 when the DPP swept to power, it has been doing its best to build Taiwan's distinguished identity as a sovereignty independent from China and to make eventual unification with China no longer the sole choice for Taiwan's people, Tung said.
The DPP's efforts have made Beijing shift from its previous goal of unifying with Taiwan to a now anti-independence stance in its dealings with Taiwan, Tung said.
At a time when Taiwan will soon inaugurate its third democratically elected president, he contended that Beijing must take new steps in settling its relations with Taiwan due to the island's democratic advancement.
Tung voiced his hope that the newly-elected Ma and his administration will fare smoothly in inking accords with China to allow more Chinese tourists to Taiwan and to open direct cargo and passenger transportation services between the two sides.
Tung suggested Taiwan and China start bilateral negotiations on undisputed issues. He pointed to new signs on the Chinese side after Taiwan's recent presidential election indicating Beijing appears to be willing to re-open two-way dialogue by putting aside disputes.
Nevertheless, Tung pointed out, no Beijing official has so far publicly recognized the "one China, separate interpretations" stance upheld by Taiwan.
Under the "one China" policy, China defines Taiwan as a part of its territory. Ma and his party the KMT, however, prefers the concept of there being only one China, with Taiwan and the mainland free to interpret on their own what that China is.
Giving his best wishes to the new government to be led by Ma, Tung said that the DPP, which will soon become the opposition party, has to fully check and balance the policies and decisions of the incoming new administration.
He urged the KMT, which also controls nearly three quarters of the Legislative Yuan's 113 seats, to forge a common ground with the opposition in enhancing cross-strait ties and building foreign relations, so as to lead Taiwan into new horizons.
(By C. Y. Lin and Flor Wang)
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