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Taiwan's new China policymaker pledges harmony
Taipei (AFP) May 1, 2008 Taiwan's incoming China policy coordinator Lai Shin-yuan on Thursday backed away from her previous pro-independence stance and pledged to promote cross-strait harmony under the new government. Lai's appointment had alarmed business leaders as she was previously a lawmaker from the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) which used to advocate declaring the island a country independent of China. But the future chairwoman of the cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council said she was fully signed up to the new administration's policy to improve ties with China. "I support (incoming president) Ma Ying-jeou's 'no reunification, no independence and no use of force' guideline," she told reporters. "The status quo is: Taiwan is the Republic of China (the island's official name), and I will strive to maintain the status quo." She also said she would honour the 1992 Beijing-Taipei consensus, in which both sides agreed that there is only "one China" open to different interpretations. China and Taiwan split in 1949 at the end of a civil war. But Beijing still considers the island part of its territory awaiting reunification and threatens to invade if it tried to declare independence. The current government of President Chen Shui-bian from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party has rejected the 1992 consensus, which is Beijing's condition for high-level talks. Ma from the Kuomintang, which favours friendly ties with China, is due to take office on May 20. His choice of Lai triggered a wave of criticism, but Lai brushed aside concerns that she would handicap Ma's efforts to push for expanded economic ties with the mainland to help boost the island's own economy. Despite political rivalry, China is now Taiwan's largest trading partner and its biggest market. "I am determined to devote myself in promoting cross-strait peace and harmony. In a democratic policy-making process, it is only natural that different opinions are heard. But it is the president who makes the final decision," she said. Lai said she would seek to widen cross-strait exchanges while protecting Taiwanese nationals working or living on the mainland and safeguarding interests of the Chinese on the island. TSU, in fact, modified its China policy last year, she added. Related Links Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com
Taiwan-China meet started to 'thaw the ice': president-elect
Taipei (AFP) April 14, 2008Weekend talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Taiwan's vice president-elect have started to "thaw the ice" in ties between the rivals, the island's incoming president Ma Ying-jeou said Monday. |
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