The UK's representative to the G8 summit said yesterday that cross-strait security issues should be placed on the agenda of the group's upcoming meeting scheduled for July.
John Chipman, Director of London's International Institute of Strategic Studies made the comment after meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Hung-mao (
The G8 is made up of the US, Japan, Russia, England, France, Germany, Italy and Canada.
He said the initiative would highlight Europe's concerns in cross-strait affairs and lighten the perceived mediator role played by the US.
The G8 countries should recognize that "this is a matter of international interest as well ... and that it should not cause concern in the PRC," Chipman said, adding he would bring up the issue with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) when the two meet later this week.
Chipman urged both sides to resume cross-strait dialogue and suggested that the G8 make a public statement supporting both sides returning to the negotiating table.
However, Chipman also conceded that proposing Taiwan Strait security as a discussion topic at the group's upcoming meeting will be a challenge, saying Washington's response to the move has been "cautious."
Chipman also said it may be difficult to reach a consensus on the sensitive issue within the G8.
He also said that discussions of Taiwan-China relations at a G8 summit were unprecedented.
Earlier yesterday Chipman met with DPP chairman Lin I-hsiung (
Lin said Taipei and Beijing should not argue over the content of the 1992 consensus, in which both sides agreed to disagree on the definition of "one China" since the past cannot be changed and Taiwan and China now have different opinions on the consensus.
Lin agreed with Chipman, saying that the two sides should begin negotiations with a view to establishing a new consensus on cross-strait ties..
However, KMT acting chairman Lien Chan (
Lien said China would continually doubt Chen and the DPP as long as the party maintained its stance on independence.
RSS