Stating that the nation's policies on foreign and cross-strait affairs remain unchanged, MOFA spokesperson Katharine Chang (張小月) yesterday called on the international community not to over-interpret President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) remarks that there is "one country on either side" (一邊一國) of the Taiwan Strait.
Chang said that Chen's remarks merely stated current political reality and it would be incorrect to interpret [Chen's remarks] as a move toward Taiwanese independence."
Chang made the statement yesterday in response to an international debate sparked by Chen's recent insinuation that Taiwan and China are two separate countries.
Chang asked the international community not to misinterpret Chen's remark, adding that the Mainland Affairs Council has given a clear explanation of what the president meant by his comment.
Meanwhile, Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志), national policy advisor to the president, stated yesterday that the most important thing about Chen's "one country on either side [of the Taiwan Strait]" declaration was to make known to the Taiwanese public as well as the international community, the fact that Taiwan has sovereignty over itself and that Taiwan is neither a province nor a part of China.
The presidential adviser said that, since Chen assumed his presidency two years ago, he has been sending goodwill gestures to China. Yet, he has received no goodwill gestures in return.
In fact, he has only been met with consistent acts to oppress and isolate Taiwan, Chen Lung-chu said.
He commented that Chen, as the head of a nation, is forced to safeguard the interests of Taiwan's people and to let Taiwan's voice be heard in the international community.
Chen Lung-chu thus called on Taiwan's public to strongly support the president in his realistic account of the present cross-strait status quo.
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