President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) promised on Saturday night that his May 20 inauguration speech would please the US and avoid antagonizing China.
"Everyone is concerned about my inauguration speech. I, too, have been thinking about it day and night these days and even dream about it," Chen said at an evening rally in Taitung, where he thanked supporters for his re-election in the March 20 polls.
"The content of my inauguration speech will satisfy our coun-trymen, win affirmation from the United States and praise from the international community, and what is most important, won't give Beijing the excuse to take a more bellicose stance toward Taiwan," he said.
Chen sent an envoy to Washington last week to explain his China policy and -- according to Chinese-language press -- to seek US approval for the wording of his inauguration speech.
On Friday, Singapore's Straits Times reported that Chen has also offered to send a secret envoy to Beijing to discuss his inauguration speech but that Bei-jing had rejected the offer, saying that unless Chen accepts its "one China" policy, it won't want any dealings with him.
However, the Presidential Office on Saturday denied the Straits Times report.
The Taipei Times yesterday quoted office spokesman James Huang (黃志芳) as saying the report was "completely untrue."
"We have noticed lately that the Straits Times continues to dish up sensational articles on the cross-strait relations issue without providing concrete evidence," Huang was quoted as saying.
He urged the Straits Times not to follow the example of "some media institutions in Hong Kong and serve as a mouthpiece for particular political forces.
Meanwhile, the heads of state of 15 of the 26 countries that recognize Taiwan will attend Chen's inauguration, Vice President Annette Lu (
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