MAC expresses skepticism over Qian statement

The vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Chen Ming-tong (陳明通), said yesterday that all Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen's (錢其琛) recent statement on cross-strait relations shows is that China has changed its tactics and its rhetoric, not the substance of its policy toward Taiwan.

Answering reporters' questions at the release of a report on cross-strait relations by the Peacetime Foundation, Chen was invited to comment on Qian's remarks. He said that they showed that "China has only changed its tactics, not its strategy; only changed the way it speaks, but not its meaning."

Beijing all talk, no action

Chen said that the Chinese government had used the same rhetoric for the 20 months since the DPP came to power. He added that he was thankful that at least Qian had not noted that Beijing was, "listening to the Taiwan authorities' words and watching their moves" (聽其言，觀其行), a phrase frequently used by Beijing since Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) assumed the presidency.

He said that although Qian -- who, in his statement of Jan 24th -- said that China would welcome visits by DPP members in "appropriate capacities" -- appeared to have moved cross-strait relations forward, in fact he had shown that China's basic meaning had not changed.

In addition, Chen called for China not only to make goodwill gestures but to back up those gestures with concrete action, including taking substantive steps in response to Taiwan's "goodwill policies," such as the establishment of the small three links and liberalization of tourism to allow Chinese visitors to Taiwan.

Chen also called for China to accept the existence of the Republic of China.

Peacetime Foundation chairman, DPP Legislator Chien Hsi-chien (簡錫土皆), also made suggestions for cross-strait peace.

Chien suggested that the two sides adopt what he called a "peace consensus" to replace the 1992 consensus, and a "peace principle" to replace the "one China principle," since the two matters have long been at the center of cross-strait disputes, and, he said, the citizens of both sides want peace.

Chien lauded Qian's remarks, also in his statement of last week, that a cross-strait economic mechanism should be established for the discussion of trade issues, but added that the WTO could provide the framework for such a mechanism.

Some good suggestions

Ruan Ming (阮銘), a visiting professor at Tamkang University and former special assistant to former Chinese Communist Party secretary-general Hu Yaobang (胡耀邦), supported Chien's comment and noted, "Qian's suggestion to establishing a cross-strait economic mechanism is a new suggestion."

Ruan also said that Qian's statement indicated that Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), widely expected to succeed Jiang as China's supreme leader later this year, seems to support Qian's approach to cross-strait policy.

The Peacetime Foundation, a non-governmental organization established in 2000, has released a report on the cross-strait situation every six months since its founding. The report released yesterday is its third.