Tsai Ying-wen (
Last week, Tang Shubei (唐樹備) -- vice chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait -- had said cross-strait discussions "are not talks between a central and local government, they are not talks between the government of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan local authorities, but equal talks under the one China principle."
Tsai, who is to head the Mainland Affairs Council, said that Tang's remarks were "positive," but cross-strait talks should not only be equal in form, or procedure, but in real terms.
PHOTO: AFP
On the recent appeal by Koo Chen-fu (
She said however the "one China" question was not the only issue.
Koo's positive message should be accepted by China, she said, adding she hoped both sides would be able to sit down for a series of substantive talks in the near future, after the "one China" issue had been settled.
In a note of warning, Tsai said that China should not "pin hopes on the inauguration speech of President-elect Chen Shui-bian (
Tsai said Beijing should "have patience," and that to "find the solution to the problem" should be the focus now.
On whether there will be a change of China policy after she assumes office on May 20, Tsai said the previous administration's policies would not be changed overnight.
She said continuity was necessary, but that more creative space within such a continuum was possible and desirable.
Tsai also urged Beijing to be patient in settling its sovereignty dispute with Taiwan.
"Chen has repeatedly voiced his goodwill" since he was elected on March 18, Tsai said "and he is not going to avoid the `one China' issue."
But she said "it would be precipitous to unveil at the speech what Chen would do in the next four years."
Chen has pledged to abide by China's so-called "Four No's" -- no declaration of independence, no constitutionalization of the "two-state" model, no change of the island's name, and no plebiscite on national status.
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