Li Ao to host new weekly program on Chinese television

Prominent Taiwanese political commentator Li Ao (李敖) is the host of a new show on China's state-run television China Central Television (CCTV), and he says this is a sign Chinese leaders are becoming more tolerant of dissent.

Li, who is an author and political commentator, campaigned on a pro-reunification platform and garnered 0.13 percent of the vote in the March 18 elections.

In Thursday's interview, Li commented on President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) approach toward China as outlined in Chen's May 20 inaugural speech, offered his personal view on the overall picture of bilateral ties, and discussed the reasons behind President Chen's stance on the "one China" policy and the consequences of it.

Li said he hoped the weekly program can help resolve the deep-rooted misunderstandings between Taiwanese and Chinese resulting from five decades of separation.

Comparing the rival governments to an estranged couple, Li said China would allow Taiwan to have extramarital affairs but would never approve a formal divorce.

"Unless they are crazy, no rulers would like to aim their machine guns at people or forbid them to speak out," Li said. "They do so only when they feel insecure and fear unrest."

The first of a six-part series taped in Taipei for CCTV, the interview was initially scheduled to be broadcast in June, but for unexplained reasons its debut was postponed until Thursday.

CCTV asked to interview Li through his running mate Elmer Fung (馮滬祥), who often shuttles between Beijing and Taipei, and relayed its questions to Li through Fung.

CCTV also showed interest in the corruption lawsuit brought by Li against former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

The interview was filmed in Taiwan by a local television station, and then sent to Beijing. There was no direct contact between Li and the Chinese television network, according to CCTV.