Lien discusses cross-strait policy with foreign press

KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰) defended both his own and his party's views on the so-called "scare tactics" being used against his rivals in the election campaign, saying a victory by a pro-independence candidate would "bring disaster" to Taiwan.

He also defended his own policy statements on the easing of cross-strait relations, while saying the "special state to state" formula for relations with China was a "national" policy, and not just the personal view of President Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

Speaking to a group of foreign journalists yesterday, Lien emphasized that voters needed to pay careful attention to the choice they face on March 18, but stopped short of directly naming any candidate.

"Some of the candidates have espoused or proposed, then and now, so-called Taiwan independence," Lien said. "But that will bring nothing but disaster to this country."

Lien said he agreed in principle with comments made last week by the chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, P.K. Chiang (江丙坤), in which Chiang suggested that Taiwan's stock market could fall to "below 100" if a "certain person" was elected and brought missiles raining down on Taiwan.

Chiang's comments were widely seen as a reference to DPP candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

"I would not agree literally with what he said word for word, but the general meaning ... I agree with it," Lien said. "Maybe he is playing a scenario on the possible situation, but generally speaking this is what I believe too."

Asked about his own cross-strait policy in light of China's recently hardened stance toward Taiwan, Lien said Chinese leaders "might not have had time to study my proposal."

Lien has suggested that Taiwan could move into what the country's official policy guidelines refer as the "intermediate stage" of reunification, if leaders in Beijing demonstrate goodwill.

The KMT candidate also emphasized that he backed the definition of relations with China as being "special state-to-state" in nature.

"President Lee's policy is the policy of this country. It's not a personal policy, but a national policy," Lien said.

Lien added it was the "constant position of the country" that does not "add or subtract anything from the present mainland policy."

At the same time, Lien also deflected accusations against the KMT over allegations of continued vote-buying and corruption in the election, although he did not deny the problem exists.

"We regret this problem, but it is not unique," Lien said. "It is one of the issues we must develop in democratic politics."

Lien said that during his term as premier (until 1997), he had come up with laws such as those prohibiting people convicted of crimes from participating in elections, and had initiated a number of crackdowns.

Despite denials to the contrary, the KMT has continued to be dogged by allegations that it has already begun channeling hundreds of millions of NT dollars through its local leaders, for distribution to voters in the runup to election day.