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Congressman says Chen is right
A big supporter of Taiwan, US Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman was one of the few US Congressmen attending a private meeting with Premier Yu Shyi-kun on Tuesday during Yu's two-day stopover in New York City. Gilman, 80, serves on the Republican Policy Committee and served for three two-year terms -- between 1995 and 2001 -- as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, formerly known as the Foreign Affairs Committee. 'Taipei Times' staff reporter Ko Shu-ling, caught up with Gilman in New York and asked him about his thoughts on President Chen's recent statement and US-Taiwan relations
Thursday, Aug 08, 2002, Page 3
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US Congressman Benjamin Gilman thinks Beijing should look at the ``one country on each side'' idea positively.
PHOTO: SU YUNG-YAO, TAIPEI TIMES
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Taipei Times: What do you think of President Chen Shui-bian's (³¯¤ô«ó) recent statement that there exists "one country on either side of the Taiwan Strait?"
Gilman: The president made a good statement, and I think we should all respect that. Of course I've been a stark supporter of independence for Taiwan for many years, so I have no reluctance to support the president's statement.
TT: Do you think the relationship across the Taiwan Strait has become tenser after the president made the statement?
Gilman: I would hope the people of the People's Republic of China would recognize that some day in the future there has to be an independent Taiwan and they should stop struggling.
They both can benefit each other by economic relations, by free trade, by an open relationship between both countries. It would be beneficial to not only Taiwan but also the People's Republic of China. It's about time we stopped fretting over all of this.
TT: Do you think President Chen is stating a fact or simply inciting a military attack from Beijing?
Gilman: Well, I hope he's not inciting the military. What he's trying to do is to get people on both sides of the Strait to recognize that one day there should be independence.
TT: What about the timing? Do you think President Chen picked the right time to make the statement because Beijing is preoccupied with the 16th National Congress meeting?
Gilman: It's never a good time in the People's Republic of China's mind. So I think it has to become a reality. The more people think about it, the better they would be.
TT: Do you see any possibility for the US government to adjust its China or Taiwan policy following President Chen's controversial announcement?
Gilman: I hope that we are not going to reject it. The (US) president has said many times in the past that we want to support Taiwan's independence.
TT: What's your personal interpretation of the "one country on either side of the Taiwan Strait" idea and the "special state to state" concept that was introduced by former president Lee Teng-hui in July 1999?
Gilman: I support an independence theory, and I hope that we would one day see that independence.
TT: Do you think people in Taiwan have the right to decide their own future?
Gilman: I think it's a very important consideration.
TT: How do you see the chairwoman of the Council of Mainland Affairs, Tsai Ying-wen's (½²^¤å) coming over to the United States to clarify President Chen's statement?
Gilman: I think the clarification is very important and I hope that both our administration and the People's Republic of China will care for the explanation.
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