Koo-Wang meet possible in Singapore in April

Taiwan may resume talks with China in April if the two political rivals' top cross-strait negotiators agree to attend a cross-strait relations symposium in Singapore.

April will mark the 10th year since the opening of talks between Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫), the head of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), and Wang Daohan (汪道涵), the head of China's Association of Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

There have been no negotiations between the two sides since 1995, when China broke off talks over then president Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) private visit to the United States.

Preparations for a resumption of formal contacts were also derailed in 1999 after Lee said that Taiwan's relations with China were "state-to-state" in nature, ever since which Beijing has declined to negotiate until Taiwan accepts the "one China" principle.

That term is anathema to the traditionally pro-independence DPP-led government.

Although Shi Hwei-you (許惠祐), secretary-general of the SEF, confirmed yesterday that Koo received an invitation from the organizing body, the National University of Singapore, on Dec. 30, to attend the symposium on April 7, Koo has not yet made up his mind whether to attend the event.

"It's too early to tell because the symposium is still in the preparation stage," Shi said. "However, he's more than happy to go and catch up with his old friend."

Hsu added that the resumption of cross-strait talks was not up to Taiwan to decide.

"It takes two to tango. It won't happen if China says no," Shi said.

Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday said that the government would happy to see the arrangement become reality.

"In the best interests of the people across the Taiwan Strait, both sides should set aside their differences, sit down to talk and come up with a feasible way to cooperate with each other," Yu said.

Jonathon Liu (劉德勳), vice chairman of the Cabinet's Mainland Affairs Council, expressed the same opinion.

"As it's our hope to see both sides sit down and negotiate, it's great to see them have an opportunity to talk," Liu said.

Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭), director of the KMT's Department of Mainland Affairs, however, did not seem so upbeat about the arrangement.

"I don't think Wang will attend the symposium. The arrangement is nothing but a political stunt staged by the DPP," he said.

Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, yesterday also confirmed that Wang has received an invitation from the organizers. Chen, however, said that the odds for any Koo-Wang talks to take place in April were slim.

"First of all, both sides have not yet seen eye to eye on the `1992 consensus,'" Chen said. "Besides, the two are too old to negotiate and should take good care of themselves." Koo, 85, is known to be in poor health and has kidney problems.

The so-called 1992 consensus is that Taiwan and China agree that there is one China, with each side having its own interpretation of what that means.