Lee says no to unity with China

By Oei Eng Goan

TAIPEI (JP): Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui rejected yesterday China's proposal for the reunification of the Taipei and Beijing governments under the "one country, two systems" scheme, calling it mere "wishful thinking".

Speaking before 200 local and foreign journalists, Lee said that Taiwan, which he called the Republic of China, was different from Hong Kong which reverted to China Monday after 156 years under British rule.

"Regardless of whether it is viewed from a historical or political standpoint, Taiwan differs categorically from Hong Kong. While Beijing may have applied its 'one country two systems' formula to establish its rule in Hong Kong, its plan to take the same approach with Taiwan is mere wishful thinking."

He said that in pursuing the unification of the Chinese people, the Taipei government was concerned not only about the form but also the substance of the reunion.

"Taiwan, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau must be united under the principles of democracy, freedom, and equitable prosperity," Lee added.

Hong Kong was ceded to Britain by China in the Treaty of Nanking in 1842, the year after British forces landed in the territory. It is guaranteed 50 years of autonomy under a Sino- British accord governing the handover.

The Portuguese settled Macau in the 16th century and declared it independent from China in 1849. Macau is to be formally reunited with China in 1999.

Taiwan is governed by Nationalist groups who fled the Chinese mainland after the communists won the civil war in 1949.

China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, called on the Taipei Nationalist government Tuesday to take concrete measures to complete the country's reunification process.

But Lee said yesterday that Taiwan had devoted considerable efforts to improve ties with the mainland and that Taipei had renounced the use of force to resolve the reunification issue.

China has repeatedly said that it would not hesitate to use military force should Taiwan proclaim itself an independent nation.

Lee's appearance yesterday afternoon at the Taipei National Guest House, where Vice President and Prime Minister Lien Chan held a party for the visiting foreign journalists, was unscheduled.

It was Lee's first remarks on the reunification issue since the Hong Kong handover.

When asked whether the United States would defend Taiwan if it were attacked by China, the prime minister answered: "I believe that, should Taiwan be threatened, the United States will make an appropriate answer."

"I don't believe that Beijing's relations with Washington should be intertwined with Taipei-Washington relations," Lien added.

He said, however, that Taiwan had sufficient military capability to safeguard its own sovereignty.

Earlier yesterday, at the joint international press conference held by the Government Information Office, Director General David Tawei Lee said Beijing had beefed up its military presence along its coast of the Taiwan Straight, forcing Taipei to also heighten the readiness of its air and naval forces.

A small group of activists of the Taiwan Independence Party unfurled a banner reading "One China, One Taiwan" in front of the entrance gate of the state guest house yesterday evening, only minutes after the party finished.

Although security officials tried to drive them away, the activists insisted on distributing their pamphlets to journalists who were leaving the building.

"Taiwan should abolish the name of 'Republic of China' and use the legitimate name 'Republic of Taiwan' in order to avoid confusion with '(The) People's Republic of China' and leave China no excuse of taking over Taiwan," one of the statements in the pamphlet said.