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MAC chief appeals for flexibility

Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday that "one country, two systems," "unification" and "independence" are all acceptable notions of cross-strait relations and that the people of Taiwan should approve of them.

Wu made his comments while discussing key language in President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) inauguration speech: that Taiwan and China "can seek to establish relations in any form whatsoever" as long as "there is the consent of the 23 million people of Taiwan."

Wu and his deputy, Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), who formally took office yesterday, were invited by the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) to discuss the president's speech in a closed-door breakfast meeting.

Wu told reporters after the meeting that the "one country, two systems" formulation could, with the agreement of the people of Taiwan, be applied to Taiwan's relationship with China -- though he believed that the idea "would not sell in Taiwan."

Beijing has so far made no official response to Chen's inaugural address. Wu said Beijing's silence was "expected."

"The council is assessing China's possible reactions. They will not respond quickly. We will wait patiently," he said.

Wu later told visiting members of the World Affairs Councils of America that the president's speech had affirmed the "five noes" pledge he made four years ago.

The president has promised that his project for rewriting the Constitution will not touch upon issues related to "national sovereignty, territory and the subject of unification or independence," Wu said.

Wu held a news conference in the council building after meeting with TSU lawmakers to discuss the elements of Chen's speech that related to cross-strait relations.

"Taiwan and China lack mutual understanding and are suspicious of each other, which often results in misunderstandings," Wu said.

Chen, in his speech, said that he understands China's insistence on the "one China" principle, but the president also appealed for the Beijing authorities to appreciate the Taiwanese people's belief in democracy, Wu said.

"The president hopes the two sides can empathize with each other. Taiwan and China should honestly face their history, and reality, so as to address future problems," he said.

Wu emphasized that Chen would abide by the promises he made in 2000.

"The president has clearly pledged that the Constitution project will not unilaterally change the status quo. That promise should be sufficient to ease all concerns about the project," he said.

Discussing the council's aims for the next four years, Wu emphasized Taiwan's willingness to pursue peace with China.

"Beijing should understand that the two sides cannot react to the realities of cross-straits exchanges unless they re-open dialogue," he said.

He urged China to renounce the use of force and show a willingness to seek cross-strait peace in order to create a positive environment for interaction.

Meanwhile, Zhang Nainchi (章念馳), director of the Institute of East Asian Studies in Shanghai, published an article in Hong Kong's Ming Pao newspaper calling on Beijing to welcome Chen's speech.

Chen's reiteration of the "five noes" pledge and his new ideas on cross-strait affairs are "progress," Zhang said.

"China should approve of Chen's ideas and restart the two sides' relationship," he said.

However, Zhang said that Chen did not entirely renounce the idea of independence in his speech, and left open the possibility of full sovereignty.

"China will not be so naive as to believe the crisis is now over," Zhang said.

Urging Beijing to demonstrate a certain degree of goodwill toward Taiwan, Zhang said that the "clouds hovering over the two sides' relationship have not cleared yet."
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