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No prerequisites for talks: premier

Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said yesterday that Beijing should not impose any prerequisites for reopening negotiations between Taiwan and China.

Hsieh made the remarks while answering questions from People First Party (PFP) Legislator Lee Ching-an (李慶安), who enquired during a question-and-answer session at the legislature about the government's stance on the impending enactment of Beijing's "anti-secession" law, which observers say could be aimed at curbing Taiwan independence.

Lee suggested the government recognize the "1992 consensus" in its dealings with China.

Hsieh called on Beijing to put aside its sovereignty disputes with Taiwan and forswear any other preconditions to display a greater degree of goodwill for rekindling bilateral negotiations on the grounds that the "bigger should compromise more."

Stressing that peace is the cornerstone of cross-strait relations, he said that the government is willing to start two-way talks on direct cargo services based on parity and dignity and even those on direct trade, passenger transport and postal links based on the pattern of the recent charter flights during the Lunar New Year holidays.

Responding to a question from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Su Chi (蘇起) about whether President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) desire to write a new constitution provokes Beijing, Hsieh said that what matters is its contents. Since what Chen referred to focuses on a streamlining of the legislative and executive branches and will not touch on the nation's official designation or change his "four noes" policy, such contents should not constitute a provocation to Beijing, Hsieh said.

While fielding questions from KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) on opening regular cross-strait links, Hsieh also vowed to strive for Taiwan's co-existence with China at a time when the National People's Congress in Beijing is anticipated to finish the "anti-secession" legislation next week.

The premier pledged not to give up the goal no matter how difficult the situation.
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