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MND think-tank on drawing board

ROC Central News Agency

2009/11/12 18:59:31
Taipei, Nov. 12 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is planning to establish a think-tank to facilitate studies on the cross-strait situation, and particularly on a proposed mechanism to foster mutual trust between the military on both sides, an MND official said Thursday.

Vice Defense Minister Chao Shih-chang urged legislators to support his proposal to establish the think-tank, which he said would study a wide range of subjects.

Meanwhile, at a hearing in the Legislative Yuan Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Shuai Hua-min reminded Chao and the MND that the group of Chinese experts who are due to attend a seminar in Taipei on "60 years across the Taiwan Strait" are not ignorant persons.

"These people have helped complete reorganization of the Communist Party of China and they have been key players in the reforms of the Chinese Army," Shuai said.

Chinese scholars, including Zheng Bijian, former vice president of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, will attend the Nov. 13-14 seminar, which is being organized by the Taipei-based Pacific Cultural Foundation.

The Chinese experts on Taiwan affairs are expected to exchange views with their Taiwanese counterparts on issues related to cross-strait relations, including political and national security matters, but it was not clear exactly what political issues will be under discussion.

The seminar has been interpreted as "the beginning of 'track two' dialogue across the Taiwan Strait and a prelude to cross-strait political talks, according to Shuai.

Political issues have so far remained off the table in cross-strait discussions. Negotiators from both sides have reached nine agreements aimed at increasing cross-strait trade and economic exchanges, since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008.

Chao said the MND is keeping a close eye on the seminar and its results.

He noted, however, that the time is not yet ripe for a mutual trust mechanism between the military on both sides of the strait and that Taiwan's current approach to the development of cross-strait relations is based on the principles of "economy ahead of politics" and "the easy ones before the difficult ones." Taiwan and China are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on financial supervision before the end of this year and an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) -- a cross-strait version of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) -- next year.

(By Garfie Lee and Deborah Kuo) ENDITEM /pc