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Chen wants US to facilitate cross-strait talks

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday continued to clarify his stance on his campaign promise of writing a new constitution before the end of 2006, vowing that the constitutional reform has nothing to do with independence or changing the status quo.

Chen also expressed goodwill toward Beijing and said he would pursue "peaceful cross-strait relations," urging the US to play a more prominent role in facilitating the reopening of cross-strait dialogue.

The Presidential Office has granted a number of requests from foreign media to interview Chen during the past week, and it expects the international community would now better understand the government's policies and avoid making incorrect judgments.

In an interview published by the Asian Wall Street Journal yesterday, Chen again denied that his intention to create a new constitution is a step toward independence for Taiwan.

"My most important goal in my second term would be to foster peaceful cross-strait relations and stability and safety in the Asia- Pacific region," Chen said.

The newspaper said that Chen stressed that he would continue to abide by the pledge he made at the beginning of his first term to not declare independence.

"And of course we will not draw any country, especially the US, into a conflict in the Taiwan Strait," Chen said.

To break the deadlock in cross-strait relations, Chen said in no uncertain terms that the US should serve a "more active, constructive" role in bringing about dialogue across the Strait.

"The US government could be a `peace bridge,' helping facilitate cross-strait contact and dialogue and acting as consultant. It could be a peace angel," Chen said.

Almost all foreign media were concerned that a new constitution would be the last step on the way to Taiwanese independence, which may anger Beijing and lead to a war.

Chen said that the aim is to create a new constitution for fulfilling the country's "reality" and satisfying the public's expectations.

Neither the reunification nor the independence arguments would be touched on, he said.

As to the question whether the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would realize the majority of people's wish to change the name, flag and territory of the nation, Chen reaffirmed his resolution of maintaining the status quo.

Secretary general to the president, Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), has said many times in the media that he believes, "the Taiwanese people are wise enough to restrain themselves from taking the nation onto a dangerous road."

"In the past decades, every time the country needed to accomplish democratic reform, the people always performed rationally -- they know the bottom line," Chiou said.

"Therefore, we are confident that the Taiwanese people will demonstrate their wisdom during the process of creating a new constitution," he said.
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