DATE=3/20/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TAIWAN / CHINA (L)
NUMBER=2-260367
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=TAIPEI
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Taiwanese President-elect Chen Shui-bian has 
extended an olive branch to China, saying he is 
willing to discuss the "one China" issue with 
Beijing's leaders -- as long as it is neither a 
condition nor the basis for peace talks.  And, as V-O-
A Correspondent Roger Wilkison reports from Taipei, 
Mr. Chen insists Taiwan be treated as an equal in any 
negotiations.


TEXT:  For Mr. Chen to say he is willing to discuss 
the "one China" issue is a major change.  The 
president-elect backed away from his espousal of 
formal independence for Taiwan during the campaign -- 
saying the issue was moot because Taiwan is already 
independent anyway.  But now, in an effort to reach 
out to Beijing, he has said for the first time that he 
is willing to at least discuss the one-China idea.

China -- which launched a barrage of fierce rhetoric 
against Mr. Chen before his election -- says it is 
watching and listening to what he does and says.  And 
it has made clear it will talk to him as long as he 
accepts the one-China principle.  In Beijing's 
interpretation, that means there is only one China and 
that Taiwan is part of it.  Taipei has long maintained  
China is one country but a divided one, ruled by two 
governments.

Mr. Chen's remark was made as he emerged from a 
meeting with one of his major backers in the business 
community.  A top aide to the president-elect later 
spelled out Mr. Chen's views on the matter.  Bi-khim 
Hsiao -- the head of the victorious Democratic 
Progressive Party's Department of International 
Affairs -- says Mr. Chen is willing to talk with 
Beijing about any issue.

            //HSIAO ACTUALITY//

We are open to discussions with the only pre-
condition, or the only principle, that talks must take 
place on an equal basis.  We insist on parity.  We 
also insist that any change in the status quo or any 
ultimate resolution arranged through negotiations must 
have the consent of the people.  But we are open to 
discussion on any issue Beijing proposes.

            //END ACTUALITY//

Miss Hsiao says her party is reassured that China has 
exercised restraint and patience toward Mr. Chen since 
he was elected Saturday, with 39 percent of the vote 
in a three-candidate field.  She says it is essential 
to overcome the suspicion between Beijing and her 
party -- which still has a platform advocating 
independence, despite Mr. Chen's backtracking on that 
issue.

Mr. Chen's campaign manager -- Chou I-jen -- says the 
president-elect will be seeking clarification of 
Beijing's concept of the one-China principle.  He says 
Beijing, alone, cannot decide whether or not Taiwan is 
a part of China. He says Taiwan and the Taiwanese 
people must also have a say in the matter.

China claims Taiwan as a wayward province, although 
the Communists, who have ruled the mainland since 
1949, have never governed the island.  Taiwan's 
Nationalist rulers, whom Mr. Chen defeated at the 
polls, call the island the Republic of China.

Mr. Chen's insistence on parity with Beijing in any 
talks is not likely to go down well with China's 
leaders, who were infuriated when outgoing Taiwanese 
president Lee Teng-hui redefined Taiwan-China ties 
last year as special state-to-state relations.  
(signed)


NEB/RW/GC/WD



20-Mar-2000 07:16 AM EDT (20-Mar-2000 1216 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.