Offer to Taiwan DPP excludes Chen Shui-bian, Annette Lu
( 2002-01-31 01:36 ) (1 )

Beijing openly put Taiwan's "president'' Chen Shui-bian alongside of his deputy Annette Lu on the blacklist of stubborn activists for Taiwan independence Wednesday -- saying they are not welcome in the mainland.

"We welcome the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members to visit the mainland... but these two people (Chen and Lu) do not represent the majority of DPP members because they are getting involved in pro-independence activities too deeply,'' said Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

He did not mention Chen and Lu by name when answering reporters' questions, referring to them only as "this lady mentioned'' and "that gentleman you're asking about.''

This is the first time for Beijing to openly accuse Chen of being a die-hard pro-independence member although it has called Lu a "scum of the nation'' for her hardline pro-independence stance.

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen last week invited DPP members to visit or tour the mainland in appropriate capacities.

Qian also said there is a distinction between the broad masses of DPP members and a handful of die-hard separatists advocating Taiwan independence, indicating that a majority of DPP members do not support Taiwan independence.

Zhang, however, said Chen and Lu are apparently included in a minority who stubbornly advocate Taiwan independence rather than the majority of DPP members.

Beijing has adopted the policy of "listening to his words and watching his deeds'' following Chen's election as the new Taiwan leader in March 2000.

Despite repeated expression of great disappointment with Chen's performance in office, Beijing always stopped short of branding Chen in any category before.

But Wednesday's open criticism clearly signalled that Beijing has given up its hope of Chen takingany concrete steps to improve cross-Straits relations.

Chen, from the pro-independence DPP, has been refusing to accept the one-China principle and 1992 consensus, an informal agreement under which both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the one-China principle. He even refuses to recognize himself as Chinese.

"The so-called question of contact is not whether we can have contact or not, but rather he (Chen) has closed the door to contact,'' Zhang said. "The reason is that up to now he still has not abandoned his plans and has not stopped separatist activities.

"If he (Chen) clearly gives up the stance on Taiwan independence and explicitly embraces the one-China principle and 1992 consensus, there may exist the possibility of allowing him to visit the mainland,'' Zhang told a monthly press briefing.

Chen has been blamed for promoting "gradual Taiwan independence'' through a "de-Sinofication'' policy in the ideology, culture, history, education and communication sectors.

The spokesman said inviting DPP members to visit the mainland with "appropriate" status means they are not allowed to make mainland visits as DPP members as the party still enshrines Taiwan independence in its platform.

"But there is no need to specifically define what an appropriate capacity is as long as we feel the status is suitable to both sides,'' he said.

Zhang also stressed that Beijing's goodwill gesture represented by Qian's speech does not mean Beijing will soften its stance on the fundamental one-China principle.

"Our position on the one-China principle is very firm. It is the bottom line of our Taiwan policy and we absolutely cannot make any compromise on this unshakeable policy,'' he said.

The spokesman resolutely ruled out the possibility of resuming cross-Straits talks, which were broken off in July 1999, this spring.

Qian's goodwill gesture has raised hopes for restarting negotiations between the two sides as early as this spring, media reports said earlier.

"There is no sign of resuming cross-Straits talks as I personally think the condition (for the talks) is still absent,'' Zhang said, referring to Taipei's refusal to accept the one-China principle.

Beijing has set the one-China principle as a precondition for resumption of any cross-Straits negotiations.

Turning to economics, Zhang said the mainland will come up with feasible plans for establishing an institution on cross-Straits economic co-operation after consulting business people and economic experts on the island.

Zhang said there will be various forms of economic co-operative mechanisms and these may include a regular meeting system or setting up a free trade zone between the two sides.

"Only after we listen to the advice and suggestions from Taiwan people in all circles can we map out the plan and substantially put it into operation,'' Zhang said.

"But we support any idea which may be conducive to developing cross-Straits economic and trade relations.''

Beijing-based non-governmental organizations Wednesday urged Taiwan authorities to mirror Taiwan's mainstream public opinion of pursuing peace, stability and development.

The seminar was organized by several Beijing-based non-governmental organizations including Huangpu Military Academy Alumni Association, the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and the Overseas Chinese of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and China Council for Promotion of Peace and Reunification.