President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that Beijing should not be permitted to participate in Taiwan's domestic political affairs and that he wishes to see Taiwan and other Asian countries brought under the US-Japan security umbrella.
Chen, echoing frequent reports in the media and within academic circles, indicated that some KMT members -- during visits to China over the past year -- sought to block opportunities for communication between the ruling DPP and Beijing.
"Some of Taiwan's politicians have tried to move the domestic struggle between the government and opposition alliance from Taipei to Beijing, and have allowed Chinese Communist leaders to interfere with Taiwan's domestic political conflicts," the president said as he received distinguished US scholars at the Presidential Office yesterday.
The scholars were led by Ralph A. Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum, an affiliate of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The president said that since taking office last year, he has repeatedly expressed his desire to resume cross-strait negotiations and peaceful dialogue, but that "some politicians" appear to have tried to block contact and have asked China not to deal with him out of fear that such contact would be a "score for A-Bian."
"If true, allowing China to interfere in Taiwanese affairs and using China to conduct domestic infighting is to the great detriment of Taiwan's democratic spirit, our commitment to fair competition and is damaging to the national interest," the president said.
A recent paper by Bonnie S. Glaser, published by the CSIS, raised a similar point and provoked criticism. Glaser cited Chinese analysts as saying that visiting KMT members had urged China to take a hard line against Chen.
During yesterday's reception, the president therefore asked Cossa whether Glaser's report was true. Cossa responded that he had accompanied Glaser on her visit to China, and that the report faithfully reflected the opinions of Chinese officials and scholars; it was not possible to verify the truthfulness of those views.
"It was just meant to remind people of such a view in Beijing and hope that Taiwan would be alert to it," said Cossa.
The president reiterated that he has expressed time and again his strong wish to normalize cross-strait relations, reopen the door to negotiation and to pursue the best possible conditions for people on both sides of the strait.
As far as the "one China" issue is concerned, he said that: "Leaders on both sides should use their wisdom to find, under the principles of democracy, equality and peace, an interpretation of `one China' that is acceptable to both sides."
Asked by the visitors about his view of US-Japan military cooperation, the president said it was in line with the overall strategic security of the Asia Pacific, but that the alliance should also include other Asian countries.
"Even Taiwan, with which neither the US nor Japan has diplomatic relations, should not be absent." Chen said.
Later in the morning, journalists asked the KMT to respond to Chen's remarks about party members purposely blocking communication between the DPP and Beijing.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
"We don't have the ability to prevent Beijing from dealing with Chen," Lien said during a tea party with reporters. Lien reiterated that the KMT's stance is to reopen the dialogue with Beijing on the basis of the so-called 1992 consensus of "`One China,' with each side having its own interpretation."
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