Asia analyst puts forwardcommonwealth formula

What is needed across the Taiwan Straits is a type of "one nation, two states" -- or "commonwealth" -- formula under which Taiwan and China are both seen as part of a greater China, according to an American expert on Asian affairs.

Ralph A. Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that it is not impossible over time.

Both Taipei and Beijing need to show a bit more flexibility in seeking common ground, Cossa pointed out.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has hinted at accepting some kind of "one China, differing definitions" formula, and Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) has talked about "Taiwan and the mainland being part of `one China,'" although Qian's notion of "one China" is still centered in Beijing, the Pacific Forum president said.

Until there is a type of commonwealth across the Taiwan Straits, he said, "the people of Taiwan should take some comfort in the realization that Taiwan is already a fully independent state and is likely to safely and securely remain so, as long as it doesn't declare itself to be one."

Cossa said that Beijing's fears that "independence" is Chen's and perhaps the US' true objective seem unwarranted because he said that none of the Taiwan officials and scholars he recently met thought a declaration of independence was a viable option for Taiwan.

In fact, Chen has specifically stated there would be no declaration of independence as long as Beijing did not attempt to forcibly reunite Taiwan with China, he pointed out.

The primary motivation for the people of Taiwan not to seek formal independence is their very real fear of the consequences. Beijing understands this, which is why it refuses to relinquish the use of force option and continues periodically to saber rattle in Taiwan's direction, the Asian affairs expert said.