`Delegation will explain stance on Chinese law

The government will organize delegation to visit Southeast Asian nations and Australia in the near future to explain Taiwan's stance on China's "Anti-Secession" Law targeting Taiwan, a senior official said yesterday.

Since China's March 14 enactment of its Anti-Secession Law codifying the use of "non-peaceful" means against Taiwan, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂) said, the government has sent official delegations to the US, Japan and major European countries to expound on Taiwan's stance toward the legislation.

Another objective is to promote Taiwan's bid to join the WHO and its views on the EU's plan to lift arms embargo against China.

communications

In the course of these communications, Kau said, some countries have expressed bafflement about the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) visit to China in the wake of the anti-secession legislation.

They are particularly confused by the so-called 10-point agreement reached by KMT Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun (江丙坤) and Chinese leaders in Beijing, Kau said.

Kau added that some foreign countries have billed the agreement as a part of China's efforts to pursue a more moderate line to compensate for the strain caused by enactment of the law.

"A few foreign governments even held the notion that the legislation doesn't constitute a grave threat to cross-strait relations," Kau said.

Kau added that many delegation members felt that the KMT-Beijing agreement has helped eased international pressure on China and foreign countries no longer unanimously showed sympathy for Taiwan over the anti-secession legislation.

united front

Nevertheless, Kau said, several other countries who are aware of China's "united front" tactics reminded Taiwan's major political parties not to be tricked by China's schemes to cause division within Taiwan.

"Through our explanations, byficials, think-tanks and scholars in Scandinavian, West European and Baltic countries, the US and Japan have come to a better understanding of our domestic political situation and current cross-strait relations," Kau said.

face-to-face

As such, face-to-face communications have been conducive to international understanding of the current state of cross-strait relations, Kau said.

Kau said that in addition, the government has decided to organize some other, similar delegations to Australia and Southeast Asian countries in order to seek their understanding and support for Taiwan's stance toward China's ever-mounting military threat.