DATE=6/29/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=CHINA-TAIWAN (L ONLY) NUMBER=2-263880 BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: China is rejecting a pledge by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to embrace a 1992 deal whereby Beijing and Taipei agreed to disagree about how to define their relationship. VOA correspondent Roger Wilkison reports China is insisting that Taiwan must accept unequivocally that it is part of China before cross-strait talks can resume. TEXT: The latest semantic dance between China and Taiwan revolves around a deal that, eight years ago, helped them cool decades of hostility and start historic talks that have since been frozen. At the time, the two sides agreed that there is only one China but disagreed how to define it. And therein lies the problem. Taiwan says the two agreed each side could have its own interpretation of what "one China" means. China denies that, saying it only agreed to shelve discussion of the issue as long as the two sides orally adhered to the one China principle. As far as Beijing is concerned, one China means Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, and not a sovereign, independent state. Taiwan has enjoyed de facto independence since the two sides split amid civil war 51 years ago. Many Taiwanese fear that accepting the one China principle would mean acknowledging the communist government in Beijing as their ruler. On Tuesday, Mr. Chen said he would recognize the 1992 deal that Taiwanese describe as "one China, two interpretations." But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao - speaking through an interpreter on Thursday - indicated that does not satisfy Beijing. /// INTERPRETER ACTUALITY /// The so-called one China - different interpretation version put forward by the Taiwan side does not conform to actual conditions and is aimed at splittist (separatist) activity under the pretext of different interpretation. We urge the Taiwan side to accept the one-China principle, and the key now is that the Taiwan authorities refuse to accept the one-China principle. /// END ACTUALITY /// Although Beijing indicated last month that a Taiwanese move toward the 1992 consensus would be considered a step toward a resumption of talks, Mr. Zhu indicated Thursday that China wants more from Mr. Chen. /// 2ND INTERPRETER ACTUALITY /// We have put forward our demands very clearly: that Taiwan's new leader accept the one-China principle unequivocally and (state clearly) that they are Chinese and also promise to seek the goal of national reunification. /// END ACTUALITY /// Mr. Chen is being beset at home as well as in China. Conflicting statements by his aides on the meaning of his pledge to adhere to the 1992 consensus have provoked confusion in Taipei and accusations that he is giving away too much to Beijing. One Taiwanese official said Wednesday that Mr. Chen's move represents a new statement of goodwill toward China. Another denied that it represents any shift in Taiwan's policy toward the mainland. (signed) NEB/HK/RW/JO 29-Jun-2000 05:43 AM EDT (29-Jun-2000 0943 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .