MAC official promotes `peace zone' in Strait

A leading official at the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday the Taiwan Strait should not be made into a testing ground for foreign weapons, but rather both sides should try harder to establish a "peace zone" in the region.

"They [China] continue buying advanced offensive weapons systems, while we keep on buying advanced military defense systems," said MAC vice chairman, Wu An-chia (吳安家) during an interview with Public Radio System (警察廣播電台). "In the end, the only one who is really happy are those who are selling weapons."

Among the offensive weapons Wu mentioned as examples were the Sovremenny-class destroyer -- which passed through the Taiwan Strait early yesterday -- as well as Sukhoi-27 and Sukhoi-30 fighter-bomber aircraft that China purchased from Russia.

"Other countries can take their advanced weapons systems and sell them to both sides of the Taiwan Strait. In the end the one who benefits is clear," Wu added.

Without naming DPP presidential candidate, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), or independent James Soong (宋楚瑜), Wu suggested the two candidates' cross-strait stances were either too clear or too vague. He said KMT candidate Lien Chan's (連戰) views were the closest to the government's current policies and opinions, including the idea to create a"peace zone."

"Trying to avoid any kind of military conflict is the only way we can benefit both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Wu said.

The idea of a "peace zone" -- conceived as a regular forum, mechanism, conference, or international consensus -- has most recently been put forward by Lien. However, it was originally proposed by former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德), and raised by Chen as early as April of last year.

While analysts like the idea, many call it unworkable as China regards the Taiwan Strait as an internal matter.

Members of Lien's campaign admit the goal is lofty but feel it can be reached over time, if treated as a "concept, a topic or issue to be discussed."

"China needs to change its authoritarian and venomous attitude," Wu said.

One factor that might help change China's stubborn position is the fact that the "Taiwan Strait is a lifeline for many other Asian countries," Wu said. "The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are smart. They should be able to think of some way to resolve this problem and reduce enmity," Wu said.

"When all is said and done, the best thing will be to avoid war; this is the only thing that would benefit people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Wu said.