Taiwan: Experts say attacks will not influence cross-strait affairs

The terrorist attacks against the US on Tuesday pose no danger to cross-strait stability, as Beijing is tied up with economic development and a leadership reshuffle, experts said yesterday.

Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Lin Chong-pin (林忠斌) described the violent surprise assault as "virtual warfare," which he predicted will cause Washington to reassess its overall strategic deployment.

"In light of its nature and magnitude, the attack constituted an example of virtual warfare," said Lin, a former research fellow with American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Though the senior China policy advisor said it was premature to speculate on the details of the change, he said he believed the US would not assign less weight to Taiwan's strategic importance in the Asia-Pacific region.

The terrorist strikes on New York and Washington unnerved many China watchers here, as the US has played a pivotal role in maintaining peace in the region.

Kao Hui (高輝), a political science analyst at Chinese Culture University, urged President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and the DPP to drop any idea of reaping gains from the conflict.

"The US will seek to work more closely with China, the world's third-largest power, in its bid to bring the attackers to heel," Kao told a news conference in the legislature yesterday.

Andy Chang (張五岳), who teaches Chinese studies at Tamkang University, in part agreed.

He doubted the terrorist atrocity would have a sustained impact on cross-strait ties.

"Economic development and a leadership reshuffle will continue to top the agenda of Chinese leaders in the short run," Chang said.