DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN FLEXIBILITY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262681
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  China may be backing away from its hard-line 
conditions for restarting talks with Taiwan - just 
days after island inaugurated a new president.  V-O-
A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from Beijing it appears 
Chinese officials could be willing to be more flexible 
about the meaning of the "one-China" policy.

TEXT:  For the past few months, China has insisted 
that Taiwan accept the so-called "one-China" principle 
before talks begin.  That principle states there is 
only one China, and Taiwan is a part of it.  But a 
senior Chinese official says both sides can sit down 
and talk without a common agreement on the one-China 
principle. 

            /// OFFICIAL ACT 1 IN CHINESE, EST. THEN
                               FADE ///

The official, who requested anonymity, says Chinese 
leaders are what he calls - pragmatists.  He says, as 
such they are aware that if they insist the Taiwanese 
first accept the People's Republic of China as the 
sole legal government of all of China then Taiwan will 
not enter negotiations.  Therefore, he says, Beijing 
is willing to be more flexible.  

            /// OFFICIAL ACT 2 IN CHINESE, EST. THEN
                             FADE ///

The official says Chinese leaders hope new Taiwanese 
President Chen Shui-bian will, over time, continue to 
move towards the goal of accepting the one-China 
principle.  He says the Chinese hope the time period 
will be as short as possible.

The fact that the senior official requested anonymity 
shows how sensitive the issue of resuming talks with 
Taiwan is in Beijing.

China's official public position has not changed.  At 
the regular press briefing (Tuesday), the Foreign 
Ministry spokeswoman rejected the notion that China 
had in any way changed its attitude toward Taiwan.  
She said Beijing still reserves the right to use force 
if Taiwan delays negotiations about reunification with 
the mainland.   (SIGNED)
 
NEB/LHF/JO/RAE 



23-May-2000 08:03 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1203 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.