Foreign policy changes unlikely, MOFA says

Big changes in Taiwan's foreign policy as a result of the DPP's victory in yesterday's presidential election were unlikely, Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Chien-jen (程建人) said yesterday evening.

Chen stopped short of saying that there would be cooperation between the KMT and Taiwan's former opposition party on the diplomatic front but promised a smooth transition of power.

"The general framework [of Taiwan's foreign policy] should not change but [if there are any changes] it would be in policy prioritization, resource allocation and personnel changes," Chen said.

"We held an election according to our constitution and every-one should respect the result of that election," he said, adding that the government should start preparations for a smooth transition of power.

Chen said the foreign ministry should give the incoming administration a briefing on Taiwan's foreign policy, "just like they do in other democracies."

The new government will decide what kind of policies to adopt but they need to understand our current policies and the international context which they are rooted in," Chen said.

"Each administration has its own blueprint. We can cooperate only if our ideas coincide, but we will offer constructive comments," he added.

"The new government must understand the international reality and not focus on wishes and aspirations," Chen said, adding that what ever government took power, it had to address the issue the people cared about the most -- the maintenance of peace and stability.

Officials at the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said, meanwhile, that Chen Shui-bian's biggest challenge as president would be to overcome the international and Chinese distrust of his party's pro-Taiwan independence stance.

"Cross-strait relations may enter an unprecedented level of tension, said MAC Chairman Su Chi (蘇起).

Vice Chairman Lin Chong-pin (林中斌) said the MAC was 100 percent behind the new administration in assisting it through the transition period.

"Cooperation will depend on the new administration; you should ask the DPP," Lin said.

"The challenges Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will face depends on China's reaction," he said.

But China apparently had not learned its lesson from it failure to intimidate the Taiwanese electorate in 1996, Lin said.

"Beijing appeared to have only learned half of the lesson," Lin said.

"They said the missiles prevented pro-independence Peng Ming-min (彭明敏) from winning in 1996 but look what they got this time," he said.

Lin cited polls conducted by the MAC which consistently show that whenever China issues threats against Taiwan, pro-independence sentiment rises.

Quoting US President Abraham Lincoln, Chen Chien-jen said he is not surprised at the result of the election.

"Lincoln said a divided house can never stand on its own. The DPP victory is a testimony of how far Taiwan has progressed democratically," Chen said.

"I am really happy," he said. "Aren't you?"