Pro-reunification camps accused Taiwan-independence elements
Thursday of putting cross-Straits relations on a dangerous course
and defying the true will of a majority of Taiwanese.
"Achieving peace, stability and development is the leading desire
in Taiwan," said Su Minsheng, vice-president of the All-China
Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.
Su
said they strongly oppose any attempt by Taiwan's new leader to use
"localization" to undermine Taiwan compatriots' recognition of the
motherland.
Beijing has extended an encouraging voice and said it is now up to
Taipei to show it, too.
A
list of "gradual Taiwan-independence" steps that have been taken
was released at a seminar Thursday in honour of the seventh
anniversary of President Jiang Zemin's speech on the Taiwan
question.
The list includes recent decisions by Taiwan authorities to print
"Taiwan" on passport covers and by the "government information
office" to abandon its logo of the map of China.
Analysts have long said that a win-win situation would be created
if both sides normalized their trade relationship.
Now that both sides have joined the World Trade Organization (WTO),
Taipei should not "pay lip service" to its new mainland policy of
"active opening, effective management," said Lu Xianchi, president
of the Beijing Association of Taiwan Compatriots.
Although Taiwan has replaced its "no haste, be patient" policy with
"active opening, effective management," on paper, it still puts
strict restrictions on agricultural products and other imports from
the mainland and on investments bound for the mainland.
Direct trading with the mainland remains banned, and
Taiwan-Mainland trade is made via third territories, mainly Hong
Kong.
Taiwan's new leader should make a concerted effort to better
relations so as to enhance Taiwanese entrepreneurs' business
developments, said Cai Guoxiong, vice-director of the Beijing
Committee of Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.
He
said the tension across the Straits can be eased if Taiwan
authorities commit to the one-China policy.
Some Taiwanese scholars are trying to convince Taiwanese
authorities to recognize that only under the frame of one-China can
both sides speed up economic integration and break the political
deadlock.
Li
Jiaquan, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, said the
Taiwanese public will actively promote the improvement of
cross-Straits ties because reunification is a long-held desire
there.
(China
Daily 01/25/2002)