Chinese dissident warns Taiwan over goodwill to China

One of China's best-known exiled dissidents, Wei Jingsheng (魏京生), yesterday criticized Taiwanese officials for being too eager to woo their Chinese counterparts, adding that such an approach could be perceived as a sign of weakness in the eyes of Chinese leaders.

"Some officials in the government have a rather abnormal attitude towards China. While China has remained unyielding, my Taiwanese friends in the government have handled China rather feebly, which will only make these Chinese officials look down on you," Wei said.

"They will see this as a sign of weakness," he added.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has been fending off a belligerent China with words and promises not to declare statehood since he took office last May in Taiwan's first transfer of power following the presidential election in March.

Wei also urged Taiwan to pay attention to human rights issues in China, adding that such attention was also part of the efforts to ensure the security of Taiwan.

"People in Taiwan should understand that the democratization of China is the only way to guarantee the island's security," Wei said.

When asked his main concern for his meeting with the president this week, Wei said he would urge Chen's government to strengthen Taiwan's "external relations" to ensure the country's international space despite Beijing's longstanding efforts to corner Taipei.

Wei was forced into exile in the US in 1997 after spending 17 years in Chinese jails for advocating multi-party democracy in China.

The outspoken dissident arrived in Taiwan on Sunday and is scheduled to hold meetings with lawmaker Shih Ming-teh (施明德).

Shih, who has been called Taiwan's Mandela, was jailed for 25 years on sedition charges during Taiwan's autocratic days before martial law was lifted in 1987.

Starting today, Wei and Shih were scheduled to begin nine rounds of dialogues on issues such as democracy, human rights and the future of cross-strait relations.

Analysts expressed high expectations of the upcoming dialogue between the two men, adding that these intellectual exchanges could shed light on the future democratization of China.

"This is a very meaningful and perhaps the best cross-strait exchange we've ever had," said Ruan Ming (阮銘), a political analyst at Tamkang University.

The first round of these talks is scheduled to take place at Kaohsiung Senior High School at 3:30pm today. The second round of talks will be held in the auditorium of the Taipei City Government complex at 2pm on March 4.