President-elect Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) pledged yesterday to seek closer economic ties with China and resuscitate the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) as a communication channel on cross-strait issues.
Speaking in English, Ma told a news conference at the Taipei Youth Center that he would prioritize closer economic relations after his inauguration on May 20, followed by confidence-building measures leading to an eventual peace agreement with Beijing.
He said the SEF and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), would resume their roles as negotiators on behalf of the two governments, adding that the KMT would have limited dialogue with the Chinese Communist Party under his administration.
"Dialogue with the Mainland will shift from party-to-party contacts to more governmental negotiations ... We hope we can [handle cross-strait issues] through the two semi-official bodies," Ma said.
In October 1992, representatives of the SEF and ARATS met in Hong Kong for a preparatory meeting that led to historic talks between then SEF chairman Koo Chen-fu (
SEF-ARATS dialogue broke down under President Chen Shui-bian's (
While promising to resume dialogue with China, the president-elect acknowledged the two sides' differences on the sovereignty issue, and promised to insist on "Taiwan-centric" principles.
"China remains the biggest threat to Taiwan's security, but [it is] also an opportunity in [terms of the] economy. I will seek to maximize the opportunity and minimize the threat," he said.
Ma said he would return to the negotiating table under the so-called "1992 consensus," and establish "confidence-building measures" to exclude the possibility of accidental confrontations between Taiwan and China before the signing of a peace agreement.
Ma stressed Taiwan's status as a "sovereign nation," and urged Chinese leaders not to compare Taiwan with Tibet.
"Taiwan is not Hong Kong, and Taiwan is not Tibet either. Taiwan [has been] a sovereign nation for many years. When they [China] talk about Tibet, they should not talk about Taiwan," Ma said.
"We elect our own president and parliament. It's very important for Beijing leaders to keep in mind that Taiwan is different ... China should stop political suppression in Tibet and we hope the situation in Tibet will be restored to normal as soon as possible," he said.
Ma reiterated that he would not rule out a boycott of the Beijing Olympics if the situation in Tibet deteriorated and said he welcomed Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to visit the nation after his inauguration.
"He is a moderate and persuasive person, and a lovable Tibetan leader. He will be more than welcome to visit Taiwan," Ma said.
He also reiterated that he had no immediate plan to visit China and said handling substantive issues such as economic ties would be more meaningful than "ceremonial" meetings between national leaders.
He thanked US President George W. Bush for his congratulatory message and vowed to play the role of a responsible stakeholder and a peacemaker in the region.
Also see: Presidential election 2008: Taiwan NewsAlso see: Post-Election 2008: Editorials
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS