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Qian Qichen upbeat on talks about direct links

Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) said yesterday that talks on direct links could be carried out between civil bodies on both sides of the Strait, according to Jeffrey Koo (辜濂松), chairman of Chinatrust Commercial Bank (中信銀).

Qian said negotiations between the bodies would avoid the "political dispute" between China and Taiwan, according to Koo.

Qian made the remarks in Beijing while receiving a visiting delegation of Taiwanese business leaders. The closed-door meeting was held yesterday afternoon.

Koo, who led the San-San Group (三三會), recounted Qian's statements to reporters afterwards.

According to Koo, Qian said if the political dispute between Taiwan and China was put aside, "direct links with Taiwan could be a reality soon; we don't have to wait three to five years."

President Group's (統一集團) Chairman Kao Chin-yen (高清愿), also quoted Qian as saying that talks between private bodies across the Strait could be carried out "as long as Taiwan sends over representatives from non-political, civilian or industry associations, and the Chinese side will send over the appropriate counterparts to talk with Taiwan."

Because Taiwan and China have regarded "one China" as a major obstacle for talks on three links, Qian's remarks indicate Beijing is flexible when it comes to its tactics.

This latest overture -- was interpreted by an analyst as a reflection of China's need for a solution to the problem.

Lin Chong-pin (林中斌), senior adviser to the National Security Council and former vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), told the Taipei Times that Qian's remarks showed that Chinese authorities are flexible enough to allow for breakthroughs in cross-strait affairs.

"If Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) can set in motion the process promising transportation links with Taipei before the upcoming 16th Party Congress [in which his successor will be announced], he and his associates can portray the trend as favorable to what Beijing ultimately wants: Unification," Lin said. "They can then argue loudly that they deserve to stay on, as they are more experienced."

To that end, Lin said Beijing's tactical adjustments are apparent. But he reminded everyone that one should not have the impression or illusion that Beijing is giving up its longstanding devotion to "one China" or "one country, two systems."

"Beijing's overtures toward Taipei may be by virtue of necessity," Lin concluded. "Nonetheless, a cross-strait thaw would bring credit to the leadership in both Beijing and Taipei and benefit the people they govern."

Meanwhile, earlier yesterday morning in Taipei, MAC Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) said the government's role in the Taiwan-Hong Kong aviation pact negotiations would also extend to talks on direct links.

He said the experience of the aviation talks could be a reference for negotiations on direct talks, but "could not be copied without any amendment."

Asked how the MAC defines the transportation route between Taiwan and China -- the Chinese side defines it as a "domestic route" -- Chen said the definition would be on the negotiating table.

"The definition of the route should be a consensus reached by the negotiators between both sides," Chen said, and "we welcome Chinese negotiators to propose any suggestion that may help in the matter."

After being made aware of Qian's remarks yesterday afternoon, Chen declined to make further comment, saying that as long as the two sides sit down to talk, "anything is possible."
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