Fri, Feb 17, 2006 page1

• US split on NUC's future: source

  NATIONAL IDENTITY A Presidential Office official said Washington has multiple positions on the issue and that Chen Shui-bian has said the US is pressuring him

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  Contrary to the popular belief that the US government strongly opposes President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to scrap the National Unification Council (NUC) and National Unification Guidelines, a Presidential Office source yesterday said that the US is divided on the issue.

  The source said that some US officials have told him privately that Taiwan should not worry too much about what the State Department says because its remarks are made to appease Beijing.

  "The US government is not necessarily weak in the face of China and the US military and intelligence agencies do not always fully agree with the State Department," the source said.

  "There are two voices inside the US government -- those who are more hawkish, such as those in the CIA and Department of Defense, and those who are more moderate, such as those in the State Department," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

  The source said that although he did not hear President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) say during a closed-door dinner party on Wednesday that he would abolish the council and guidelines regardless of US pressure in the other direction, Chen did say that Taipei would continue to negotiate with Washington and allay its concerns.

  Chen had also admitted he was under tremendous pressure from the US, similar to the pressure he received when he proposed the nation's first referendum, the source said.

  The source also quoted Chen as saying that the proposal to abolish the unification council and guidelines was not a spur-of-the-moment idea.

  When asked what the best timing would be to proceed with a formal push against the guidelines and the NUC, the source suggested that Feb. 28 would be a good time.

  The National Security Council is studying the feasibility of eliminating the NUC and the guidelines and is expected to reach a decision by the end of this month.

  Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂), chairman of World United Formosans for Independence, said that he did not hear the president say on Wednesday night that he, regardless of US pressure, would proceed with the abolition of the NUC and the guidelines.

  Ng said Washington's position was important but not the ultimate arbiter of Taipei's policy.

  "We respect their opinions but they cannot make any decisions for us," he said.

  National Policy Adviser to the President Chin Heng-wei (金恆煒) echoed that view, and said that he had heard of a Feb. 28 date being used to announce that formal abolition would commence.

  Meanwhile, nearly 50 percent of respondents surveyed in a new poll said they would opt for independence if they had to choose between independence and unification.

  The survey, conducted by the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister newspaper) from Monday to Wednesday this week, found that 49.3 percent of respondents said they preferred independence, while 26 percent favored unification and 24.6 percent said they had no opinion.

  also see stories:
  

  Chen's NUC bid may succeed: academics
  

  President Chen knows just what he is doing
• Most Popular

  • 1

    MOFA blasts Beijing after Zambia scraps RightsCon

  • 2

    Expert warns on China customs blockade

  • 3

    First new high-capacity MRT train arrives from S Korea

  • 4

    ‘Hai Kun’ begins 13th sea trial, July delivery eyed

  • 5

    Lai lands in Eswatini despite revoked flight permits