Thu, Apr 27, 2006 page3

• Hu failed to score points in US: Chen

  INTERVIEW President Chen Shui-bian told the `Asian Wall Street Journal' that there were no surprises in last week's summit between George W. Bush and Hu Jintao

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) failed to score points against Taiwan during his recent US visit and China's rise poses a longer-term threat to this nation and its people, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) told the Wall Street Journal Asian in an interview published yesterday.

  "Because the US government's stance is firm, President [George W.] Bush did not let China score points on the Taiwan issue during the meeting," Chen said. "President Bush did not say anything to surprise us and for that we are very grateful."

  Chen told the Journal that the Bush-Hu meeting highlighted four issues -- human rights, "one China," Taiwan and economics.

  First, Chen said, it was a serious concern when a well-educated Chinese woman, Wang Wenyi (王文怡), yelled at Hu as the Chinese leader began to deliver a speech on the South Lawn at the White House last week.

  Her protest reflects not only China's suppression of the Falun Gong and religious freedom but also its notorious human-rights record, Chen said.

  Second, Chen said he thinks it was not an innocent flub when the White House announcer mixed up the national anthem of the Republic of China (ROC) with that of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

  The mistake was made, Chen said, because of the "one China" concept, which confuses the international community.

  Third, the US and China have different attitudes toward Taiwan although they both embrace "one China," Chen said.

  While China "strongly opposes" Taiwan independence and sets unification as its ultimate goal, Chen said the US government "does not support" Taiwan independence but it does not preset any stance or conclusion for Taiwan's future.

  Finally, he said it was debatable whether the Bush-Hu meeting has had any positive impact on the two countries' trade imbalance.

  He said people will have to pay attention to China's impact on the global economy when the "sleeping giant" awakens.

  Despite China's indifference to Taiwan's goodwill gestures and Beijing's passage of an "Anti-Secession" Law, Chen said his government is still willing to engage in dialogue with Beijing under the principles of sovereignty, democracy, peace and equality.

  He said he hopes China would respect and accept the fact that the ROC is an independent, sovereign state and that it would respect the free choice of the 23 million people of Taiwan about the country's future and cross-strait relations.

  The president called on Beijing to resolve cross-strait disputes through government-to-government contacts and dialogue, lambasting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for joining forces to seize power in 2008.

  He said that after he was elected in 2000, China waiting for the opposition parties to succeed with their impeachment campaign. After he won re-election in 2004, China waited for him to be unseated by two lawsuits filed by the losing pair, former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

  Now, China is teaming up with the opposition to engage in a "soft decapitation" campaign to vilify his government and its leaders, he said.

  "Even if the KMT retakes power in 2008, I don't believe cross-strait relations will improve," he said.

  Chen, however, expressed appreciation to KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for the Taipei mayor's support for a "reasonable" arms procurement package, saying that it marks a good beginning for the long-stalled plan.

  Chen said that he realizes that it may take a while before the legislature gives the arms budget the go-ahead, but if lawmakers keep trying, he anticipates the legislature reaching a consensus on the issue by agreeing to at least part of the project.

  Stressing that Taiwan will never launch the first strike and start a war in the Taiwan Strait, Chen said the country must strengthen its national defense capability.

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  Editorial: President Chen, time to fight back
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