China Warned Against Using U.S. to Pressure Taiwan

Reuters ^ | 1/12/04 | Alice Hung

[truthandlife]

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian warns China in his new book against using the United States to pressure it, saying the strategy could backfire and further alienate the island, according to excerpts seen on Monday.

But he also proposes that Taiwan and China set aside differences, stop passing messages through the United States and exchange envoys after the elections, the mass circulation United Daily News said.

Publication of "Believing in Taiwan" comes two months before presidential elections with tension simmering between Taiwan and China, which regards the island as a breakaway province that must one day be brought back to the fold -- by force if necessary.

"Beijing's policy toward Taiwan is to use (Taiwan) businessmen to besiege the (Taipei) government, use economics to promote unification and use force to prevent independence," according to the book, Chen's second since he became president and ended more than five decades of one party rule in 2000.

"Now, we should add one more -- use the United States to pressure Taiwan," according to excerpts of a chapter on relations with China provided by Chen's campaign office.

"How can this divide-and-conquer strategy win the hearts of the Taiwan people? (I) fear it will only increase hostility and confrontation and fortify Taiwan's political identity and national identity," says the excerpt from the book, which goes on sale later this week.

China gave unusual VIP treatment to Taiwan business leaders last month, granting them a rare audience with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Trade and tourism between the two political rivals have blossomed since detente began in the late 1980s. Taiwan investors have poured up to $100 billion into China.

DAGGER IN A SMILE

Chen likens China's policy toward the island to "hiding a dagger in a smile," the Taiwan Daily quoted the book as saying.

The United States switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979 -- accepting Beijing's "one China" policy -- but remains Taiwan's main arms supplier and diplomatic ally.

At the same time, the United States and China are major trade partners and share strategic interests -- China hosted six-party talks to resolve the North Korea (news - web sites) nuclear crisis and backed the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

During a visit to Washington by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in November, President Bush (news - web sites) bluntly criticized Taiwan for threatening to upset the "status quo" with China, an apparent reference to Chen's plan for the island's first referendum.

China sees the referendum as a provocative move toward statehood. The two sides split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

Chen's book says China's opposition to the referendum, which is likely to call on China to dismantle nearly 500 missiles aimed at the island, reflects its fears about Taiwan's democracy.

Chen plans to hold the referendum in an apparent bid to boost to his re-election chances. He trails in surveys after unemployment hit a record high and the economy slipped into recession during his four-year watch.

Last week Taiwan indefinitely postponed sending a delegation to the United States to seek Washington's blessing for the referendum in what appeared to be a setback for Chen.

Beijing has ignored Chen since his election because he refuses to embrace its cherished "one China" principle, which dictates that both Taiwan and the mainland are part of one country.