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China honing its cross strait strategy: MAC

China has continued to step up its military buildup against Taiwan, despite having invited two opposition leaders to visit China earlier this year, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman You Ying-lung (游盈隆) said yesterday.

Quoting a Chinese government internal circular, You said the Beijing has also directed their overseas diplomatic missions to intensify their international publicity campaign to accentuate that the Chinese people are wise enough to resolve their "internal" cross-strait dispute on their own.

According to You, the circular was distributed to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cadres as well as Chinese government officials, overseas staff and military officers in the second half of last month after Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) visited China.

"The content of the circular indicates that China, while inviting Taiwan's opposition leaders to open up a new platform for its Taiwan-targeting work and sowing discord in Taiwan society, has continued its military deployment against Taiwan and suppression against Taiwan's international presence," You said.

The circular claims that as the situation in Taiwan remains "grim," the military must continue to escalate its Taiwan-targeting combat preparedness, You said.

The document also points out that inviting Lien and Soong was a major policy strategy aimed at winning the hearts and minds of the people of Taiwan and at forging ties with various political parties and groups in Taiwan.

It further says the enactment of its "Anti-Secession" law will contribute to China's drive to impede the pro-independence force in Taiwan. Nevertheless, it adds that as pro-independence activists have not ceased "secessionist" activities and anti-Chinese foreign forces have continued to obstruct a solution to the Taiwan issue, the People's Liberation Army must not ease its combat preparedness against Taiwan.

In the meantime, You said, the circular directs Chinese diplomats to step up their propaganda efforts.

"Chinese foreign missions are also ordered to take active steps to prevent the United States from developing official ties and military cooperation with Taiwan, foil any US attempts to cooperate with Japan over the `Taiwan issue,' and strengthen the EU's and Russia's pro-China stance on the Taiwan issue," You said.

Moreover, You said, the circular demands that Chinese diplomats make every possible effort to impede Taiwan's bid to join the UN and its affiliates, while appropriately dealing with Taiwan-related affairs in professional international bodies and non-government organizations.

You said, China has not shown any flexibility toward the Taiwan Strait issue in the wake of Lien and Soong's visits and will continue its all-out efforts to thwart Taiwan's bid to join major international organizations and activities.

For years, You said, China has consistently kept in place a comprehensive package of strategic and tactical measures toward Taiwan.

"The recently obtained Chinese internal circular proves that China will not forsake its two-pronged, carrot-and-stick ploy against Taiwan after the visits by Lien and Soong," he added.

In other developments, Yu said officials of the Taiwan Provincial Farmers' Association (TPFA) would risk violating the law if they reach a deal to export fruit to China.

"Without being authorized by the authorities, officials of the TPFA could violate the Cross-Strait Relations Act for reaching or signing any deal related to government affairs with China," Yu said.

Media reports said TPFA chairman Liu Chuan-chung (劉銓忠) reached a consensus on Wednesday with the Beijing-based, semi-official Association for Economic and Trade Exchange Across the Taiwan Strait on matters concerning the certificate of origin and quarantine.

The reports said Beijing might recognize the certificates of origin issued by the TPFA to facilitate fruit exports.

Liu quietly led a nine-member delegation to Beijing on Tuesday for a four-day visit.

You said the government does not object to farm trade with China, but the issuance of such certificates is part of the government's authority and without authorization, TPFA might violate the law if it reached such a deal with China.
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