• Military

• WMD Menu                           

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

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Premier maps out realistic diplomacy with flexibility

ROC Central News Agency

2008-05-30 14:13:57

    Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said in his first administrative report to the Legislative Yuan Friday that he will promote realistic diplomatic policies with pragmatism, dignity, independent thinking and flexibility.

    Championing what he described as "modus vivendi" diplomacy, Liu said his administration will push in a pragmatic manner to rejoin the United Nations, participate in global and regional activities and improve relations with China.

    Calling the Republic of China a "peace creator" in the international community, Liu said his administration will enhance mutual trust and cooperation with the United States and Japan to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

    He gave his assurance that Taiwan will continue to procure weapons from the United States to meet the country's defense needs and said the administration would like to see the number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies increase, although he added that it is more important that the quality of the country's diplomatic personnel should be upgraded.

    On relations with China, Liu said it is imperative that institutionalized engagement between the Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) , is resumed as soon as possible.

    The SEF and the ARATS were founded in the early 1990s to handle cross-strait exchanges in the absence of official ties. Regular dialogue, however, has been suspended since 1999 after ROC then-President Lee Teng-hui defined cross-strait ties as "a special state-to-state relationship." Beijing viewed Lee's remarks as a move to promote Taiwan independence and suspended SEF-ARATS talks.

    Liu said he hopes cross-strait negotiations conducted by the two intermediary bodies will resume under the principle that Taiwan's dignity and national security are protected.

    He said he attaches great expectations to a "normalization" of cross-strait business and trade exchanges and expressed hope that direct cross-Taiwan Strait weekend charter flights will be launched in July, followed immediately by the arrival of Chinese tourists in Taiwan.

    These two initiatives will lead to the opening of full direct air and shipping links across the Taiwan Strait eventually, Liu went on.

    Saying that Taiwan needs an international presence and representation, Liu predicted that "cross-strait exchanges will continue to grow only when Taiwan is not isolated in the international community."

    The premier called for both sides to bury the hatchet and respect each other, allowing the cross-strait relations to grow from the previous "zero sum" situation to a "win win" development, from "destructive competition" to "equality and reciprocity."

    Liu reiterated that Taiwan will resume cross-strait dialogue with China based on the premise of the "1991 consensus" and "mutual non-denial" idea.

    He finally urged Beijing to remove its missiles aimed at Taiwan and sign a peace accord and "miliary mutual trust mechanism" with Taiwan to make the Taiwan Strait stable and peaceful.

(By Deborah Kuo)

ENDITEM/J