President Lee Teng-hui reiterated today that his statement regarding the "special state-to-state relationship" is simply a description of reality, aimed at emphasizing that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait stand on parity.
President Lee stated that after the establishment of parity, the two sides can then conduct dialogue and negotiations on political and other subjects. In other words, the ROC can accept neither Peking's claim that mainland China is the central government and Taiwan is a local one, nor its "one country, two systems" formula, he elaborated.
The American Heritage Foundation delegation visited President Lee at the Presidential Office at 11:10 this morning. Members of the delegation included: Foundation President Edwin J. Feulner, Rep. and Mrs. Sam Johnson, Rep. and Mrs. Bill Barrett, Rep. Charles T. Canady, Rep. and Mrs. Ernest Istook, Rep. Van Hilleary, and Rep. and Mrs. Joseph R. Pitts.
On behalf of the ROC government, President Lee first expressed his appreciation for the staunch support that the US Congress has rendered to the ROC over the past years, and for its contributions to maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Subsequently, President Lee explained to his guests on current matters of interest such as the ROC's democratization and the economic development, situation in Asia and the mainland China factor, and his definition of "cross-strait relationship as a special state-to-state relationship."
He said that he presented the "special state-to-state relationship" during an exclusive interview with Deutche Welle in response to the question on Peking's regarding Taiwan as a "renegade province."
President Lee stressed that as the head of the ROC, and in consideration of preserving the ROC's sovereignty as well as the rights and interests of its people, he must give a specific answer to the above question by Deutche Welle.
He indicated that whether from historical or legal perspective, the "special state-to-state relationship" is an undeniable fact, and that his presentation is also aimed at making the ROC's existence known to the world.
The President said that the 1972 Shanghai Communique clearly states that the definition of "one China" is subject to respective interpretations by the two sides. Nevertheless, with the passage of time, Peking's claim that "one China" refers to the People's Republic of China, while the Republic of China exists only as a province of the PRC and not as a country has prevailed in the international community, he added. "This formulation has forced the ROC into a corner and threatened its survival," he said. "It is therefore my responsibility to clarify the ROC's position."
President Lee said that after he presented the "special state-to-state relationship," many people, both at home and abroad, especially from the media, have commented on it, with some even surmising that the presentation was made for his own interest or for his party to win the presidential election next year.
"I can definitely assure you that such observations and views are totally incorrect," he asserted. "My presentation of the 'special state-to-state relationship' is aimed at establishing the parity between the two sides of the Strait, and to safeguard the ROC's position for future negotiations with Peking."
He particularly pointed out that the ROC's mainland policy has remained unchanged, adding that he supports the three-pillar statement made by President Clinton the other day. Peace in the Strait requires cross-strait contacts and dialogue, and problems between the two sides can never be settled by military force, he maintained.
Some of the visiting US House Representatives expressed their concern over the ROC's admission to the World Trade Organization. In response, President Lee said that the ROC has applied for WTO membership as an independent tariff territory and has completed bilateral negotiations with all the related countries. The technical problems regarding Taipei's WTO membership have been solved and the ROC has made all the requisite domestic preparations, however, it is regrettable that the ROC's accession to the WTO has been taking such a long time only because of political considerations, he added.
Regarding some other visitors' inquiry about the purchase of Boeing aircraft by China Airlines, President Lee said that this is purely a business deal between the two private companies. He said he has suggested that both companies' top executives should consult with each other directly, adding that this would help produce a satisfactory result.
On cross-strait relations, President Lee maintained that although the liberalization of mainland China will take more time, the economic, trade, cultural and other exchanges across the Strait should narrow the material and psychological gaps between the Chinese on both sides.