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Chen says others can negotiate direct links ...

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that the government would consider authorizing civil organizations to negotiate with China on the issue of direct links.

"Substance is much more important than style," Chen said. "We have to consider practical ways to contact Mainland China."

"The government will certainly play a role on the three links issue, including conducting, participating or intervening in the procedures, but it is not always necessary for the government to stand on the front lines," Chen said.

"Under the principle that Taiwan should neither be regarded as local government nor be marginalized, the government may authorize those civil organizations to negotiate with China," Chen said.

Chen made the announcement on his way to Taitung County along with a group of media executives as part of his nationwide inspection tour to mark the coming second anniversary of his inauguration.

The remarks followed comments by Chen on Thursday in which he said he will push for sending a high-level DPP delegation to China sometime after Aug. 1.

"I am a flexible, pragmatic person," Chen said when answering questions about whether the government would adopt the formula set forth in Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation pact negotiations to deal with the direct links issue.

Chen pointed out, however, that air links between Taiwan and Hong Kong are not the same as direct cross-strait links.

"Both the Taiwan-Hong Kong talks formula and the civil organizations' negotiations are just options worth government consideration," Chen said.

"Certainly the government fully understands that there are differences between Taiwanese and Chinese civil organizations. In China the government often plays a leading role behind-the-scenes, while in Taiwan, there is always a clear line between civil organizations and the government," the president said.

"However, as long as we can cling to our principles and remain a flexible and pragmatic attitude, then many aspects (of the cross-strait relationship) can be solved," he said.

Chen also stressed that different government departments, such as the Mainland Affairs Council and the national security system, were originally far divided over direct links.

"But they have gradually narrowed their differences," he said.

Yesterday Chen also led those media executives to review a missile test-firing exercise at the Chiupeng military base in Taiwan's southernmost county of Pintung.

He stressed during the tea gathering after the exercise that to maintain the military power and to dialogue with China are both necessary steps for seeking the permanent peace of the cross-strait relationship.

"Both are equally important and should be pursed simultaneously. Even if we have strong military power, we still need to have cross-strait dialogues, on the other hand, backup by the power military force, Taiwan can obtain a more advantage direction for the dialogue."
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