Chen promises peace in the Taiwan Strait

DPP presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) launched a full-fledged clarification of his policy yesterday to neutralize claims by his opponents that a Chen victory in next Saturday's presidential election would bring Taiwan to the verge of war with China.

Once he is elected, Chen said, he would not deliberately not press three related moves that might destabilize cross-strait relations.

"I would not push for an amendment to include the `two-state theory,' in the Constitution, nor would I push for a referendum on the issue of whether Taiwan should seek independence or re-unify with China," he said during the last round of presidential candidates' televised policy speeches yesterday.

He also said that, in the current circumstances, it is not necessary to change Taiwan's official name of the Republic of China, adding that the move wouldn't take place unless China attacks Taiwan.

"A-bian [Chen's nickname] is a pacifist. I am against wars, and I don't want wars. I won't bring Taiwan to the verge of war," he said.

To strengthen his stance, Chen cited Chen Pi-chao (陳必照), formerly one of President Lee Teng-hui's (李登輝) national security advisors, who resigned Friday after announcing his willingness to become an advisor to Chen.

Chen Pi-chao said yesterday morning that only if Chen Shui-bian were elected could Taiwan see real peace, without any prospect of war between China and Taiwan.

The DPP candidate also said the party's support in its platform for an institutionalized referendum system -- which some have feared would be used to bring about a declaration of Taiwan independence -- carried the same overtone as US President Bill Clinton's statement in a speech last Tuesday at John's Hopkins University that cross-strait relations must be resolved peacefully "with the assent of the people of Taiwan."

In addition, Chen also made three promises as "Taiwan's new national leader."

Although being proud of being a DPP member, Chen said he would act as a "people's president" (全民總統), taking into consideration the interests of people regardless of their party, ethnic or gender differences.

Secondly, he would place national interests above personal or party interests were he elected, a promise he had already made on Friday when meeting the president of Academic Sinica, Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), who announced his endorsement of Chen's bid.

Chen's third promise was that his top priority would be to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the people of Taiwan.

Chen also clarified claims made by his opponents that the term "shift of power from a party to another party" (政黨輪替) was a rhetorical term invented by Chen. Chen said that actually it was a key part of the analysis of the "third wave" of worldwide democratization made famous by Samuel Huntington, a political scientist at Harvard University.

Chen used the concept to lure voter support. Admitting that "absolute power leads to absolute corruption," Chen urged the people of Taiwan to vote for him to help complete "the first transfer of power to another party" in Taiwan's history.

Following Lee's Yuan-tseh's promise to join a National Policy Advisory Committee if Chen is elected, on top of promises by heavyweights such as Taiwan High-Speed Railway Corp. Chairperson Nita Ing (殷琪) and Chen Pi-chao to serve in advisory roles, the latest names on Chen's advisors' list will be announced today, the candidate said.