Taiwan concerned with regional stability: Chen

Stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific can be ensured by cross-strait goodwill and dialogue, and a partnership between Taiwan and Japan, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday.

The president made the remarks during a videoconference with the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan yesterday. Chen stressed the necessity of a balance between Taiwan's sovereignty and cross-strait peace.

Chen said that a "new balance of power" would ensure the stability of Taiwan's democratic institutions, which could assist non-democratic nations -- such as China -- develop democracy, and prompt resumed dialogue across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen said that since being elected president in 2000, his focus has been on domestic reforms and the normalization of cross-strait relations. But Beijing has been uninterested in engaging Taiwan's duly-elected government to resolve the cross-strait impasse.

"To this day, Beijing has been unwilling to reciprocate my gestures of goodwill. On the contrary, it attempts to create division within Taiwan through the use of its `united front' strategy," Chen said.

Chen also said that China's reluctance will not undermine his resolve to pursue "good-willed reconciliation, active cooperation, and permanent peace in the Taiwan Strait."

He said that no un-official organizations could be unsuccessful in resolving problems, and those that deal with Beijing without government authorization are bound to fail.

He added that the meetings between the Chinese president and Taiwan's opposition leaders aimed at undermining the solidarity of the Taiwanese people, and not at resolving cross-strait issues.

"The APEC [Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation] leaders' summit in Pusan, Korea, this November will provide the best platform for [cross-strait] interactions," Chen said. "It would be a good opportunity for Taiwanese representatives to meet with China's leadership."

Chen said the expansion of China's military ambition and capabilities constitutes a direct threat to democratic Taiwan and, more importantly, a potential danger to the security and peace of the Asia-Pacific region, and even the world as a whole.

"I believe that China's lack of transparency in its decision-making process, its undemocratic political system and domestic instability contribute to Beijing's military aggression," Chen said.

In February, the US and Japan made waves when the two countries agreed that Taiwan was part a "common strategic objective" in the region, and encouraged a peaceful resolution to the cross-strait impasse.

Echoing the "common strategic objective," Chen said that Taiwan and Japan have common economic, democratic and security interests.

The president also said that although Taiwan-Japan relations have chilled over a recent fishing dispute, sincere, continuous bilateral negotiations would eventually resolve the problem.