China's Vice Premier Qian Qichen (
"As long as Taiwan authorities agree to solve the Taiwan problem under the `one China' principle, we can patiently wait," Qian told an audience of senior statesmen and strategists at the China-sponsored International Forum on China and the World in the 21st Century.
The statement appeared to be a departure from China's earlier statements warning it would use force against Taiwan if the country delayed unification indefinitely.
Qian said the policy Beijing proposed for unifying with Taiwan would be "broader" than that for Hong Kong and Macau.
Taiwan would be able to main-tain its own government structure, military and currency, Qian said. It would also remain an independent customs zone and Beijing would not levy a single penny of taxes on Taiwan or send its officials to the country to take office.
"The way of living of the Taiwanese people will remain unchanged," he said.
"Taiwan entrepreneurs can keep their property and assets. Taiwan will have autonomous recruitment of their officials. The mainland government won't send officials to Taiwan."
But Qian reiterated Beijing's stance that Taiwan must accept the "one China" principle, under which Beijing defines Taiwan as an inseparable part of China.
He also said China could not give up the threat of force because this would "encourage Taiwan independence forces and will make peaceful unification impossible," although he didn't say under what circumstances military strength might be used.
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has rejected Beijing's offer of "one country, two systems."
An official from the Mainland Affairs Council rejected the offer yesterday, saying it was not new.
"Why should we accept? The Republic of China is a sovereign state. Should we accept the offer? The ROC government would be relegated into a local government and that would be by no means acceptable," the official said.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is to tighten rules for candidates running for public office, requiring them to declare that they do not hold a Chinese household registration or passport, and that they possess no other foreign citizenship. The requirement was set out in a draft amendment to the Enforcement Rules of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法 ) released by the ministry on Thursday. Under the proposal, candidates would need to make the declaration when submitting their registration forms, which would be published in the official election bulletin. The move follows the removal of several elected officials who were
The Republic of China (ROC) is celebrating its 114th Double Ten National Day today, featuring military parades and a variety of performances and speeches in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei. The Taiwan Taiko Association opened the celebrations with a 100-drummer performance, including young percussionists. As per tradition, an air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet flew over the Presidential Office as a part of the performance. The Honor Guards of the ROC and its marching band also heralded in a military parade. Students from Taichung's Shin Min High School then followed with a colorful performance using floral imagery to represent Taiwan's alternate name
FOUR DESIGNATED AREAS: Notices were issued for live-fire exercises in waters south and northwest of Penghu, northeast of Keelung and west of Kaohsiung, they said The military is planning three major annual exercises across the army, navy and air force this month, with the navy’s “Hai Chiang” (海強, “Sea Strong”) drills running from today through Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday. The Hai Chiang exercise, which is to take place in waters surrounding Taiwan, would feature P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and S-70C anti-submarine helicopters, the ministry said, adding that the drills aim to bolster the nation’s offshore defensive capabilities. China has intensified military and psychological pressure against Taiwan, repeatedly sending warplanes and vessels into areas near the nation’s air defense identification zone and across
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