Beijing yesterday rejected an offer from Taiwan for its top negotiator to travel to China in an attempt to jump-start stalled cross-strait talks.
An official from China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait was quoted by Taiwan's Central News Agency in Beijing yesterday as saying that "this is not a question of who comes or who goes -- the problem is Taiwan's "two-states" theory."
The official reiterated China's position that Taiwan's "two-states" position on cross-strait relations, first pronounced by President Lee Teng-hui (
Taiwan insists, however, that the "one-China" policy stems from an agreement that both sides reached at their landmark 1993 meeting in Singapore, which was that each may hold its own interpretation of what "one China" meant. It says, therefore, that the "two-states" declaration is consistent with its own interpretation of the policy.
On Thursday, Koo Chen-fu (
His offer has received short shrift, however, not only from Chinese officials but also from analysts -- though for vastly differing reasons.
Speaking yesterday to a CNA reporter at a forum for Taiwanese investors in Hong Kong, cross-strait analyst Yu Ke-li (余克禮) said Koo was just "spewing propaganda."
Yu went on to criticize Koo for not accepting China's demand that Taiwan reject its "two-states" position.
At home, Koo's offer also came under fire. "China and Taiwan are two countries. Taiwan does not need to go and do something without a reason," said DPP lawmaker Chang Chuan-tien (張川田). "If China is unwilling to come to Taiwan because of "two-states" and feels upset, then they shouldn't come -- Taiwan will be fine."
Speculation continues, meanwhile, over whether Koo will be replaced in December, when the SEF's board of trustees term comes to an end. The foundation was established in 1990 and re-elects its board members every three years.
Cross-strait analysts downplayed the possibility of changes taking place at such a sensitive time. "This is something to deal with after the presidential election," said Yen Wan-ching (
Lo Chih-cheng (
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