Lee says no to unity with China
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.