Lee says no to unity with China<\/p>\n
By Oei Eng Goan<\/p>\n
TAIPEI (JP): Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui rejected
\nyesterday China's proposal for the reunification of the Taipei
\nand Beijing governments under the \"one country, two systems\"
\nscheme, calling it mere \"wishful thinking\".<\/p>\n
Speaking before 200 local and foreign journalists, Lee said
\nthat Taiwan, which he called the Republic of China, was different
\nfrom Hong Kong which reverted to China Monday after 156 years
\nunder British rule.<\/p>\n
\"Regardless of whether it is viewed from a historical or
\npolitical standpoint, Taiwan differs categorically from Hong
\nKong. While Beijing may have applied its 'one country two
\nsystems' formula to establish its rule in Hong Kong, its plan to
\ntake the same approach with Taiwan is mere wishful thinking.\"<\/p>\n
He said that in pursuing the unification of the Chinese
\npeople, the Taipei government was concerned not only about the
\nform but also the substance of the reunion.<\/p>\n
\"Taiwan, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau must be
\nunited under the principles of democracy, freedom, and equitable
\nprosperity,\" Lee added.<\/p>\n
Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by China in the Treaty of
\nNanking in 1842, the year after British forces landed in the
\nterritory. It is guaranteed 50 years of autonomy under a Sino-
\nBritish accord governing the handover.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese settled Macau in the 16th century and declared
\nit independent from China in 1849. Macau is to be formally
\nreunited with China in 1999.<\/p>\n
Taiwan is governed by Nationalist groups who fled the Chinese
\nmainland after the communists won the civil war in 1949.<\/p>\n
China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, called on
\nthe Taipei Nationalist government Tuesday to take concrete
\nmeasures to complete the country's reunification process.<\/p>\n
But Lee said yesterday that Taiwan had devoted considerable
\nefforts to improve ties with the mainland and that Taipei had
\nrenounced the use of force to resolve the reunification issue.<\/p>\n
China has repeatedly said that it would not hesitate to use
\nmilitary force should Taiwan proclaim itself an independent
\nnation.<\/p>\n
Lee's appearance yesterday afternoon at the Taipei National
\nGuest House, where Vice President and Prime Minister Lien Chan
\nheld a party for the visiting foreign journalists, was
\nunscheduled.<\/p>\n
It was Lee's first remarks on the reunification issue since
\nthe Hong Kong handover.<\/p>\n
When asked whether the United States would defend Taiwan if it
\nwere attacked by China, the prime minister answered: \"I believe
\nthat, should Taiwan be threatened, the United States will make an
\nappropriate answer.\"<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that Beijing's relations with Washington
\nshould be intertwined with Taipei-Washington relations,\" Lien
\nadded.<\/p>\n
He said, however, that Taiwan had sufficient military
\ncapability to safeguard its own sovereignty.<\/p>\n
Earlier yesterday, at the joint international press conference
\nheld by the Government Information Office, Director General David
\nTawei Lee said Beijing had beefed up its military presence along
\nits coast of the Taiwan Straight, forcing Taipei to also heighten
\nthe readiness of its air and naval forces.<\/p>\n
A small group of activists of the Taiwan Independence Party
\nunfurled a banner reading \"One China, One Taiwan\" in front of the
\nentrance gate of the state guest house yesterday evening, only
\nminutes after the party finished.<\/p>\n
Although security officials tried to drive them away, the
\nactivists insisted on distributing their pamphlets to journalists
\nwho were leaving the building.<\/p>\n
\"Taiwan should abolish the name of 'Republic of China' and use
\nthe legitimate name 'Republic of Taiwan' in order to avoid
\nconfusion with '(The) People's Republic of China' and leave China
\nno excuse of taking over Taiwan,\" one of the statements in the
\npamphlet said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lee-says-no-to-unity-with-china-1447893297",
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