A conference on the unification of China and Taiwan in Sydney yesterday, addressed by former US President Bill Clinton, was marred by clashes between police and anti-Beijing protestors.
About 150 supporters of an independent Taiwan gathered outside the 2002 World Congress on the Peaceful Reunification of China.
The demonstrators said Beijing had no right to interfere in Taiwan's affairs, even if it formally proclaimed its independence.
"That conference in there is a method from the Chinese government of promoting so-called nationalism and as a past president of America he [Clinton] should not be participating,'' renowned China dissident Wei Jingsheng (魏京生) said.
Clinton told his audience that observers had to "look at all the economic and personal interaction that is going on [between China and Taiwan]."
"The important thing is that time is taking care of this problem," he said, signalling his belief that China and Taiwan would resolve their differences in the future. "Sensible people are moving to a resolution everyone can live with."
However, in a speech read on behalf of former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, the prospect of Australia being dragged into a future conflict between Beijing and Taipei was again raised.
Fraser's speech said Clinton's successor, George W. Bush, appeared to be more hawkish on the issue of protecting Taiwan's de facto independence.
Fraser said that any subsequent military clash between Beijing and Taipei would draw in both the US and Australia.
"The implication from American officials is that because of ANZUS, we must support the US in such a war," Fraser said of the Australia-New Zealand-US defense treaty.
"A treaty designed to achieve Australian security is now being distorted potentially to embroil us in a conflict of America's choosing with another super power [China].
"It would be madness for Australia to be involved."
Clinton warned earlier that the US' position as the dominant global power would not be permanent.
"This is a brief moment in history when the United States has pre-eminent military, economic and political power -- it won't last forever," the former president said.
"The Chinese economy is growing, the Indian economy is growing, and the European economy is growing together," he said.
Protesters said Clinton had been paid A$300,000 Australian for his 40-minute speech. Organizers refused to disclose his fee.
Wei spent 17 years in a Chinese prison and was freed on medical parole in 1997. He now lives in the US. China often uses medical parole to rid itself of high-profile prisoners.
Wei called on Clinton to address the protesters, some of whom waved banners proclaiming "China, hands off Taiwan. Reunification by force, no way."
"If Mr. Clinton still believes in American values, after his speech in the conference he should come out and talk to the protesters,'' Wei said. ``Of course, we don't have A$300,000 to pay him."
See Editorial:
Bush and Clinton a world apart
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