Candidates discuss issues with US magazine

With only 18 days remaining until the March 18 presidential election, presidential candidates Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Lien Chan (連戰) recently shared their views on cross-strait relations and national security with Time magazine.

In the March 6 issue of the US news magazine, Chen, the DPP's candidate, said that if elected president he would not put the concept of "state-to-state" relations in the Constitution and would not change the name of the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name. Chen told Time that any change in the status quo would have to be agreed upon by the people of Taiwan.

Lien told Time: "Taiwan should not go independent. Nor can we be united with China. We need flexibility, and cannot set timetables."

Soong, a former provincial governor and currently an independent presidential candidate, told a Time reporter: "Taiwan and China should de-escalate tensions, establish direct dialogue and sign a non-aggression accord with international witnesses -- the US and Japan."

Lien said he advocated Taiwan joining the Theater Missile Defense system, and Soong said that he didn't want Taiwan to engage in an arms race with Beijing.