In response to remarks by China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) that Beijing can wait for a solution to the cross-strait problem, as long as Taiwan agrees to solve it in accordance with the "one China" principle, the Mainland Affairs Council yesterday called for negotiations to be held in an atmosphere of fairness and harmony.
"Fairness is what we are looking for," said Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏), the director of the council's research and planning department.
"Peace talks between Beijing and Taipei should be held under harmonious and fair conditions for both governments. Otherwise, there is nothing to talk about."
Jan was speaking at a press conference at which the Mainland Affairs Council (
Most residents of Taiwan expect fairer and more promising treatment from Beijing, Jan added.
Jan also commented on the China's military exercises on Dongshan Island last month.
"We thought the main theme of these exercises recently was political rather than military.
"We believe that the major audience for this show was the US and Taiwan.
"The Chinese Army wants to make the US government believe that it still has the ability to strike Taiwan if necessary.
"In the meantime, it was also warning Taiwan to stay where it is," Jan added.
According to a study by national defense advisors at the council, both the quantity and quality of the weapons at China's disposal have improved dramatically recently, especially since Taiwan's first presidential election in 1996.
The Chinese government has made extensive expenditures on state-of-the-art weapons and has scheduled exercises to train its soldiers in their use.
"The Dongshan Island war games held by the Chinese Army for example," Jan continued, "[employed] the best troops in China. They came for training, then they went back to show everything they had learned to other soldiers."
Qian had said in his speech that under the "one China" policy, Taiwan will be able to use its currency, keep its military forces, retain its own tax system and the current structure of its government.
"This is impossible," Jan said. "Think about it. If the governments were to switch positions and Taiwan proposed the same deal to China, would China accept it? If not, maybe they should start to work on another proposal which is fairer."
Jan also said that the Taiwanese people shouldn't feel threatened by China's military exercises.
He also named Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po and the US' Washington Times as newspapers which gave a lot of coverage to Chinese military activities, which, he said, tended to create undue tension.
"Believing in our own government is what we should do," said Jan.
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