MAC welcomes China's speech

China's willingness to attempt negotiations in accordance with the "Hong Kong model" should be viewed as a gesture of goodwill, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) spokesman Chiu Tai-san (邱太三) said yesterday in response to China's Taiwan Affairs Office's remarks on cross-strait chartered flights.

"As long as the government authorizes delegates to participate in negotiations, we do not rule out any possibilities," Chiu said, noting that the Taiwan Affairs Office had taken a lighter tone this time, compared with its Oct. 14 response to President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) National Day speech.

"I've mentioned this before -- if you are not willing to accept our suggestions, then you should make some of your own ... this is a sort of starting point," Chiu said. "I understand that they are testing Taiwan's bottom line right now, but negotiations, by definition, cannot be dictated by one party alone."

Chiu was referring to China's insistence that talks be conducted by the private sector and that air routes be regarded as domestic.

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Zhang Mingqing (張銘清) said yesterday during a routine press conference that negotiations on establishing cross-strait chartered flights could be conducted as long as Taiwan recognized the "1992 Consensus" but gave its approval for the implementation of flights using the "Hong Kong model."

Under the latter model, talks are primarily conducted by business representatives but under government direction. The model formalized direct flights between Hong Kong and Taiwan in 2002, and resulting agreements were signed by aviation representatives and not by government officials.

Zhang yesterday quoted Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛), who had previously said that cross-strait challenges could be approached as economic issues. However, Zhang stressed yesterday that chartered flights were a domestic matter.

"Our policy is consistent. The `three links' are an economic matter. However, it is definitely not a `state to state' matter," Zhang was reported as saying in the China Times.

He also approved of the possibility of establishing air links for the upcoming Lunar New Year in accordance with the "Hong Kong model," saying it was "workable."

Zhang also rejected US Secretary of State Colin Powell's appeal for talks based on a call by Chen in his National Day speech for new negotiations. Zhang dismissed Chen's comments as a "phony olive branch."

"Taiwan's authorities aren't using the basis of the `one-China principle.' They say, `Taiwan independence' and `one country on each side.' So we have no basis for negotiation," Zhang said.

"Stick to the `one China principle.' This is the basis of cross-strait talks."

Zhang welcomed Powell's comments in a television interview during a visit to Beijing this week. Powell said it is Washington's "firm policy" that Taiwan does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation.

"Powell's comments are consistent with the US' `one-China' policy and cross-strait relations," Zhang said.

Zhang criticized US weapons sales to Taiwan, saying they violated a 1982 commitment to reduce and eventually end such supplies.

Beijing is especially concerned about a plan under consideration for Taiwan to buy up to US$18 billion worth of US-made missiles and other weapons.