China's Vice Chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Tang Shubei (唐樹備) yesterday pressed President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to embrace the "one China" principle in his inauguration address.
Tang's statement, made at a conference on reunification in Xiamen yesterday marks Beijing's first public stance towards Chen's speech.
While no one expected Chen's speech on May 20 to cure half a century of estrangement, failure to agree to Beijing's definition of "one China" would create "extremely grave new problems," Tang said.
"Of course people cannot ask that this problem be solved by issuing one speech," Tang said in a clear reference to Chen's inaugural address, although he did not mention Chen by name.
However, some people in Taiwan were trying to overturn the "one China" principle, Tang said.
"Only if Taiwan authorities clearly recognize the principle can there be a broad scope for the peaceful, stable and improved development of cross-strait relations," Tang said.
He urged both sides to return to a 1992 agreement over "one China," but added the consensus did not allow Taiwan's individual interpretation of what that means.
Chen has said his inaugural speech would not provoke the mainland or "create trouble."
Chen, however, says neither side should come to the negotiating table with a precondition on reunification or independence.
Chen insists that while the "one China" model can be a topic of discussion, but it cannot be a precondition for talks.
Beijing says it cannot compromise on the issue.
"This is in fact not admitting Taiwan is a part of China, and is even hoping to discuss with the mainland whether Taiwan is a part of China," Tang said of Chen's remarks.
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