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Academics skeptical of Beijing

Government officials and academics yesterday said they doubted an announcement by China's National People's Congress (NPC) that Beijing has no interest in Taiwan's presidential election.

China "has never interfered with elections in Taiwan and also has no interest in the ongoing election," said NPC spokesman Jiang Enzhu (姜恩柱).

The Chinese parliament's new session opens today in Beijing.

"No matter who comes to power after the election, we hope he can accept the `one China' principle, on which basis the two sides of the Taiwan Strait could hold dialogue and negotiations and realize direct links," Jiang said.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) flatly rejects the "one China" principle, while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) cleaves to that principle, albeit with an interpretation of his own.

"`One China' refers to the Republic of China, which is Taiwan. There is only one China in the world," Lien has said.

Chang Wu-yen (張五岳), a professor at the Institute of China Studies at Tamkang University, said Beijing has emphasized its lack of interest in this month's election in order to clear itself of the suspicion that was attempting to sway the result.

"The fact is that China has never been so concerned about an election in Taiwan," Chang said.

Beijing's refusal to renounce the possible use of force against Taiwan is one of the factors causing the US to see China as playing a destabilizing role in the Taiwan Strait, Chang said.

Chang was reacting to comments made on Tuesday by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, Powell said: "We do not support Taiwan's independence, and we oppose moves by either side to unilaterally change the status quo."

"In this regard, we also strongly oppose the use of force or its threat across the Taiwan Strait. China's military build-up opposite Taiwan is destabilizing. We urge a posture more conducive to the peaceful resolution of existing disputes," Powell said.

The US is worried about Beijing's refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, Chang said.

While stating that the US adheres firmly to its "one China" policy, Powell also noted the policy is defined by the three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act.

The Mainland Affairs Council , which has called for China not to attempt to influence the election, has been closely observing the preparations for this year's NPC session but made no public comments on its spokesman's remarks.

A council official, however, said it is unlikely the NPC would come out with ground-breaking cross-strait policies during the session because China wants to avoid drawing a strong reaction from Taiwan ahead of the vote.

Chen Chung-hong (陳崇弘), director of the council's department of information and liaison, said recently that Beijing has strengthened cooperation with think tanks in the US and Europe as part of efforts to reform its international image.

China has devoted large sums to promoting its cross-strait policy in the international community and its businesspeople have sought ties with US officials and academics.

"Chinese businesspeople have great influence on other countries' politics and media because of their business strength. Taiwan needs to pay attention to these people," Chen Chung-hong said.
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