Letters: Hu's overtures are futile

Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), in his political report to the Chinese Communist Party's 17th Party Congress delivered on Oct. 15, for the first time formally urged the signing of a cross-strait peace agreement on the basis of the "one China" principle. He stressed that any issue that relates to China's sovereignty and territorial unity must be decided by the 1.3 billion Chinese people, including the 23 million living on Taiwan.

This is the first time Beijing has officially called for the signing of a "peace agreement" with Taiwan and Hu has been praised by the US for avoiding rhetoric that could be viewed as a threat of military action against Taiwan. However, Hu's "moderate" attempt at reconciliation is bound to prove futile.

First, Taiwan's future, whatever it shall be, will be determined by the people of Taiwan. It is none of Beijing's business and cannot and should not be dictated by the Chinese Communist Party.

Second, as many Taiwanese believe that any acceptance of the "one China" principle means kowtowing to Beijing, Hu's appeal for dialogue is certain to be rejected by the independence-leaning leadership.

Finally, the overwhelming majority of people in Taiwan today are, more or less, for independence in the sense that they do not want to be ruled by an undemocratic, authoritarian regime.

Ho Ping-jung

Taipei