President-elect Chen Shui-bian (
"As the country's new leader, I have no ability nor power to have my own way on cross-strait relations," Chen said.
"As far as I'm concerned, the confederation system is a breakthrough and an innovative idea in terms of cross-strait relations. But it must still rely on the government and our people to strike a consensus on whether it would be feasible or not. I think there is plenty of room for discussion on the issue," he said.
PHOTO: AP
Chen's remarks on the confederation system were made yesterday during a visit to Sun Yun-suan (孫運璿), premier from 1978 to 1984 and now a senior adviser to the president. Sun had himself advocated a confederation system to bring Taiwan and China together.
While not ruling out other possibilities, Chen told Sun during the visit that the confederation system is a direction that has plenty of room for discussion.
He said, however, that for cross-strait relations to improve, friendly gestures, rather than warnings, were needed.
"By making constant verbal attacks and threatening the use of force, China is further delaying the improvement of cross-strait relations," Chen said.
"If China ever wants to have warm relations with the Taiwan people, it has to have new and different thinking. It [China] has to make Taiwan people feel as comfortable as if they were bathed in summer breezes."
"In the face of a thick wall of ice, it's not enough to use shovels. Instead, the most important tool is warm sunshine," Chen said.
Shortly after Chen's remarks, Yu Keli (
Yu had previously been scheduled to meet Yen Wan-chin (
Asked whether the confederation system is accepted by the DPP, which has traditionally supported Taiwan independence, Yen said the party was open-minded over the future of cross-strait relations and that any possible model could be discussed.
Chang Wu-yueh (張五岳), director of the graduate institute of China studies at Tamkang University, said it was good for the president-elect to allow room for any possible solutions to cross-strait relations. He added, however, that it was clear Beijing would accept nothing but the "one China" principle.
"But it doesn't mean we have no way out. What's even more important is that everybody in Taiwan should work out a common view of the issue together and try to make it understood by the international community," Chang said. "Beijing has made its stance all too clear. It would be wise of us not to go so far as to cross the limits of tolerance. But I think there is still a lot of space to explore what people in Taiwan really want."
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