The Guardian 11 May, 2005
China, Taiwan
move toward better relations
Marilyn Bechtel
In a surprise move, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian on May 2 proposed setting up "a
military and security consultation mechanism as soon as possible" with China, to
improve communications between military and security forces and cut the risk of
misunderstandings and unintentional conflicts.
Chen's statement followed a historic meeting on April 29 between Chinese Communist Party
head Hu Jintao and Taiwanese opposition leader, Kuomintang (KMT, or Nationalist) Party
Chairman Lien Chan, and the announcement that the two parties have formally agreed to work
together on five issues.
Heading the list is restoration of cross-straits talks initiated in 1992 but broken off after 1998,
following promotion of a "two-states" theory by Taiwan's then-President Lee Teng-
hui.
The two parties also agreed to work together for the formal end of the state of hostility that has
existed since the triumph of the Chinese revolution in 1949 and to take steps toward a peace
accord, to deepen economic links and cooperation, to discuss Taiwan's participation in
international activities after dialogue resumes, and to develop regular exchange visits and
discussions.
After the meeting, Lien told reporters his visit was aimed at increasing people's well being. He
said the KMT will work to carry out some of the agreements, but others will need action by
Chen's government.
The meeting between Hu and Lien — the first between leaders of the two parties in 60 years —
took place on the invitation of Hu Jintao. It followed a visit to China last month by a delegation
headed by KMT Vice Chair Chiang Pin-kung. The KMT was forced to withdraw across the
straits in 1949, governed Taiwan until it was defeated in elections in 2000. It, too, has
consistently favoured unification, but under its leadership. To date, no armistice or peace accord
has been signed.
The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Communist Party of China
have consistently maintained that Taiwan is an integral part of the PRC. In December 1978,
several years after China and the US established diplomatic relations, the two countries issued
a joint communiqué in which Washington recognised the PRC government as "the sole legal
government of China" and acknowledged the PRC's position that there is only one China and
Taiwan is part of China.
However, the US has continued to encourage Taiwanese separatist ambitions, selling the island
advanced weapons, including its representatives in high-level weapons conferences and
threatening retaliation were China to act on policies such as the recently passed Anti-Secession
Law.
When the KMT was defeated in 2000 and Chen Shui-Bian became president, he pledged that
his Democratic Progressive Party would not press for separation from the mainland. But he later
took a more pro-independence stance.
The KMT did well in elections last December, adding to pressure on Chen's government to
improve relations with China.
Speaking with reporters on May 2 during a state visit to the Marshall Islands, Chen reiterated
his wish for an eventual peaceful relationship, but emphasised that China must accept Taiwan
as an equal — in direct contradiction to China's consistent policy.
Though at first Chen's government sharply criticised the KMT for trying to take over
governmental policy, in an April 25 telephone call Chen told Lien he hoped the KMT leader
would return with specific ideas on improving cross-straits relations.
Despite protest demonstrations as Lien departed, opinion polls on the island showed public
approval of the visits.
Lien's trip is to be followed by a visit by James Soong, head of the People First Party, starting
on May 5.
People's Weekly World