DPP officials yesterday expressed regret over Beijing's refusal to renounce military intimidation of Taiwan, saying the declaration has once again hurt the feelings of Taiwanese.
But the officials said that the public shouldn't be overly concerned with China's attitude, as it is merely a continuation of communist party policy and does not represent any new threat.
Taiwan received a flat rebuff from China two days after President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen told the Chinese leaders that Taiwan would not change its status quo if Beijing stops threatening Taiwan militarily.
But yesterday, China's Defense Minister Chi Haotian (
DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (
The secretary general called on Beijing not to consider Taiwan its rival and asked that China work with Taiwan to seek peace.
Director of the DPP's Chinese Affairs Department Chen Chung-hsin (
He said that while the government does not expect China's attitude to be easily changed, there may be room for flexibility in terms of the tactics the government can use when dealing with Beijing.
The president has proposed using civil organizations to negotiate with China. Beijing has said it welcomes that initiative.
President Chen's recent tough remarks on China have triggered public concern that his shift in attitude could rile Beijing and make the resumption of dialogue impossible.
But DPP officials have said they do not believe the comments would affect cross-strait relations given that the DPP is still committed to a peaceful resolution of the cross-strait dispute.
Taiwan yesterday condemned the recent increase in Chinese coast guard-escorted fishing vessels operating illegally in waters around the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島) in the South China Sea. Unusually large groupings of Chinese fishing vessels began to appear around the islands on Feb. 15, when at least six motherships and 29 smaller boats were sighted, the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said in a news release. While CGA vessels were dispatched to expel the Chinese boats, Chinese coast guard ships trespassed into Taiwan’s restricted waters and unsuccessfully attempted to interfere, the CGA said. Due to the provocation, the CGA initiated an operation to increase
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