Vice President Lien Chan stated today that in cross-strait relations, "President Lee's remarks about 'special state-to-state relationship' should be viewed from the aspects of pragmatism, parity, progress and peace." In other words, President Lee's remarks are "a true reflection of current situation and a pragmatic self-positioning, rather than a policy switch," he said.
The Vice President made the remarks when meeting with Chairman Richard Bush of the American Institute in Taiwan this afternoon. Foreign Minister Jason Hu, Su Chi, Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, and Lin Bih-jaw, Deputy Secretary-General to the President, were also present.
Vice President Lien said that as far as "parity" is concerned, when Beijing seeks political dialogue with the ROC, "we can not be regarded as its local government, but should enjoy a parity status."
He made it clear to Mr. Bush: "Parity is the name of the game, not independence." The presentation of "special state-to-state relationship" is aimed at seeking parity, and it is incorrect to equate this presentation with "Taiwan independence," he added.
On "progress," the Vice President asserted that the ROC has not abandoned its goal of reunification under freedom, democracy and equitable distribution of wealth, neither has it ruled out the future possibility of "a unified China."
He said that after the status of both sides are clearly defined, cross-strait relations would develop in a favorable direction in the long run. "We therefore hope that Mr. Wang Daohan can make his visit to Taiwan as scheduled and hence, facilitate progress in favorable cross-strait interactions," he said.
On "peace," he said that peace in the Taiwan Strait is of extraordinary importance. "As I have emphasized once and again, all the policies and steps Taiwan has taken are aimed at securing peace in the Taiwan Strait," he said. "This stance is completely in line with that of the US, and we hope that mainland China will take peace seriously, rather than make an emotional response."
Vice President Lien further explained that it is a reality that the Republic of China has been a sovereign state since 1912, and that the two sides of the Strait have been under separate rule during the past 50 years. Therefore, they must start from reality and pragmatically face up the problems resulting from reality, so that those problems can be resolved effectively, he said.
The Vice President also reiterated that Taiwan is not a province of the People's Republic of China, nor is cross-strait relationship a relationship between the central and local governments. Rather, they should engage in exchanges, contacts, dialogue and consultations on the basis of parity in order to promote their relations, he said.
During the conversation, the Vice President repeatedly expressed the ROC's hope for continued cross-strait exchanges, contacts, dialogue and consultations, which he said would benefit both sides.
He particularly indicated that cross-strait relations must not be that of military confrontation, and that any problems between them should be settled by peaceful means, not by military force.
He assured his guest once again that the ROC's mainland policy remains unchanged. The reason President Lee made the remarks about cross-strait relations in a recent interview with Deutsche Welle is to clarify the true situation, when asked to comment on Beijing's viewing Taiwan as a "renegade province," the Vice President said.