Candidates offer diverse views on cross-strait issues

Independent presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday proposed that Taiwan should have the capability to destroy ports and airports along the Chinese coastline as part of his China and defense policy.

Speaking on national defense, Soong advocated "forward defense (前進性的防衛)," saying that Taiwan should have the capability to counterattack first and second waves of Chinese offensives by striking back at key Chinese locations along its coast facing Taiwan.

He also slammed Lien Chan's controversial proposal to develop long-range surface-to-surface missiles as unnecessary.

Then speaking on cross-strait diplomacy, Soong said that the "state-to-state" concept -- outlined by President Lee Teng-hui last July -- can be interpreted in both static and dynamic ways.

"There is no problem if 'state-to-state' is a static concept, referring to the status quo of the ROC and the PRC; but if it is a dynamic concept referring to Taiwan independence, then that will invite a clash between the two sides of the strait," Soong said.

He suggested the two sides sign a non-aggression treaty under international witnesses.

KMT candidate Lien Chan (連戰) outlined his proposal for national defense as "active defense and effective deterrence" and pledged to bring begin cross-strait dialogue according to the National Unification Guidelines (國統綱領), which determine that the two sides undertake official negotiations on equal grounds.

In Lien's speech yesterday national defense and cross-strait ties were the first two items of his "10 Proposals."

Lien made public his China policy last Thursday, highlighting his intention to work toward opening direct official contacts and communications between Taiwan and China.

The DPP's Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) pledged that, if elected, he would not declare Taiwan independence, would not change the official national name and would not write Lee's "state-to-state" theory into the Constitution.

He reiterated that Taiwan is an independent country, not a "quasi-country," a reference to Soong's proposed definition of cross-strait relations as "quasi-international relations."

"Unless Beijing uses military force there is no need for Taiwan to hold a referendum on independence," Chen said.

He also said that a military confidence-building mechanism between the two sides should be established, and that cross-strait negotiations under his presidency would be based on public consensus.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良) claimed that the situation across the Taiwan Strait at present is more dangerous than ever before.