Vice President Lien Chan announced today that if he is elected president of the Republic of China next March and the interest and dignity of the 22 million people in Taiwan can be ensured, he is willing to visit the Chinese mainland for a "peace journey" either before or after his inauguration in May. "I am willing to meet with Peking's leaders and discuss any subject with them in order to improve cross-strait relations," he said.
He said that the place for the meeting is not an important concern, and that it is fine with him if Peking considers a third location outside the mainland and Taiwan to be preferable. The most important thing is for both sides to show their goodwill and sincerity in solving problems, he added.
Vice President Lien made the remarks when he received a delegation of foreign correspondents stationed in Peking, Hong Kong and Macau this afternoon.
On President Lee Teng-hui's statement several months ago that cross-strait relationship is a special state-to-state relationship, Vice President Lien reiterated that the statement is nothing more than a faithful description of cross-strait relations that have existed for more than 50 years. If the two sides of the Taiwan Strait mean to solve the existing problems between them, they must start with reality and face up to the issues. Taipei will never withdraw its statement of "special state-to-state relationship," because the statement is "telling a truth," the Vice President maintained.
He stressed that he has always insisted on parity, peace, progress and prosperity as the principles to promote cross-strait relations and to fulfill the "win-win" goal for both sides, which will also benefit other parties in the international community.
On Peking's "one country, two systems" proposal, Vice President Lien said that the ROC has been a sovereign state for the past 88 years, different from colonial Hong Kong or Macau. "In particular, Peking refers to the People's Republic of China as 'one country' and claims Taiwan as one of its provinces, an allegation that we will never accept," he said. "Parity is our most fundamental requirement."
He told his guests that he had proposed a "three no's and three yes's" mainland policy—namely, "no's" to unification, independence or confrontation, but "yes's" to peace, exchanges and a win-win result. Based upon these ideas, the two sides should strengthen their relations in different areas and engage in dialogue and negotiation at opportune times, he said. "Any subject can be discussed, and as far as national unification is concerned, we have no timetable or prerequisite. We are most willing to have reciprocal and pragmatic discussions with Peking, if both sides can stand on parity."
The Vice President indicated that at this point, both sides should lay aside their sovereignty dispute for the time being. "Since this dispute has not been resolved during the past 50 years, if the two sides are sincere about settling their problems, they should stop focusing on the dispute and seek to break the deadlock in a pragmatic manner," he said. "Otherwise, the issues will always be there."
He suggested that the two sides start with cooperation and exchanges in areas such as joint crackdown on crime and smuggling, agricultural cooperation, and scientific and technological exchanges. They should resume cross-strait consultations as soon as possible in order to discuss such topics as terminating hostility and signing a truce or peace agreement.
Regarding his administrative guideline if elected the ROC president, Vice President Lien said that his administration would consist of both old and new. He will continue the good and right policies, but since the ROC will face many new problems and challenges as it enters the 21st century, he will gather the strength of his citizens and introduce new ideas and measures to raise the ROC's competitiveness toward another apex, he elaborated.
As for his personnel policy, the Vice President asserted that he will not be confined by using only people from his own party, but will employ anyone capable. Those talents who are willing to serve and dedicate themselves to the country and people will be invited to join his government, in order to realize the vision of a quality democracy, a mature economy and a compassionate society, he said.
Accompanied by Deputy Director-General Frederic Chang of Government Information Office, the foreign correspondents met with Vice President Lien at the Presidential Office this afternoon. They included: Stephen Vines from the U.S.'s Daily Deal, Andreas Lorenz from Germany's Der Spiegel, Otto Mann from Germany's Berliner Zeitung, Markus Gaertner from Germany's Handesblatt, David Rennie from the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, Elisabeth Cazer from France's VSD Magazine, Allen Cheng from Hong Kong's Asia Inc., David Lague from Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald, Piotr Gillert from Poland's Rzeczpospolita Daily, and Paul Money from Hong Kong's Asia Week. Lin Bih-jaw, Deputy Secretary-General to the President, was also present.