Flowers not weapons, Yu tells China

Likening relations to a romantic relationship, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said on Wednesday that Taiwan prefers roses to guns when dealing with China.

"China's military buildup is something similar to a scenario in which a big guy holds a young and beautiful lady at gunpoint and asks her to marry him and use his surname," he said. "Like most women, Taiwan prefers roses to guns."

Yu the remarks at a private meeting with US Congressman Howard Berman and Los Angeles County Chief Zev Yaroslavsky on Wednesday afternoon.

Rather forcing Taiwan to accept the "one country, two systems" model, Yu said, China should respect the wishes of Taiwan's 23 million people.

"Just like parents who have to respect the wishes of their children in terms of marriage, China should respect the wishes of the Taiwanese people regarding their future," Yu said.

There is no need for a missile buildup across the Taiwan Strait, the premier said, adding that the key to resolving the cross-strait impasse is peaceful dialogue and rational negotiation.

"Missile buildup only exacerbates tension across the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Berman, who proposed that the Bill Clinton administration issue a visa to then-president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) in 1995, said that he totally agreed with Yu.

"The US had every right to issue the visa [to Lee]," he said.

In addition to expressing his appreciation for the fact that Taiwan and the US share the values of freedom, democracy and human rights, Berman asked Yu about the meaning of "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait and the plebiscite law recently proposed by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

Yu that Chen is merely stating the fact that Taiwan is a sovereign state because it has its own laws, land, military and constitution.

"The president had a legitimate reason to make the statement because China had recently reiterated that it doesn't rule out the possibility of using military force to change Taiwan's status quo," Yu said.

As for the plebiscite law, Yu said, the proposal would not mean that Taiwan would immediately hold a plebiscite once the law is enacted.

Yu used the meeting to promote the six-year national development project to Yaroslavsky, who expressed his concern about Taiwan's economy.

"Taiwan desperately needs economic reform to transform from a labor-intensive economy to [a] knowledge-based [economy]," he said, adding that Taiwan's GDP per capita has been stuck at US$13,000 for the past five years.

Yu scheduled to have a private breakfast with US members of Congress Brad Sherman, Grace Napolitano and Gary Miller. He is due to leave for Taiwan at 4pm.