Gov’t demands clarification of ‘non-peaceful means’

The government yesterday demanded Beijing make clear to visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice what it meant by the use of “non-peaceful means” in the wording of its new anti-secession legislation.

Cross-strait tensions have recently escalated after the Chinese National People’s Congress last week passed an anti-secession law aimed at preventing Taiwan independence. China says the law will help Taiwan reunify peacefully with the mainland but government officials here sas it will authorize the Chinese military to attack the island.

“Beijing has not clarified to the international community under what conditions exactly it would be authorized by the law to use “non-peaceful means” against Taiwan, causing great international concern,” outgoing MAC Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san said.

At a news conference Rice said she told Chinese leaders the United States was unhappy with the new Chinese law.

The law, she said, “was not a welcome development because anything that increases tensions... is not good.”

Chiu told reporters yesterday that major nations around the world had all expressed their concern about the new Chinese law.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party legislative whip William Lai praised Rice for reiterating U.S. opposition to the potential lifting of an European arms embargo on China, a move the European Union seemed sure to take before the recent escalation of tensions with Taiwan.

“The DPP council salutes Rice’s determination to maintain peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region,” Lai said.

Chiu, one of the island’s top China policy makers and a former ruling party legislator, announced he would resign as MAC vice chairman to run for Taichung county magistrate in the end of year town and county chief elections

Chiu said he wanted to return to Taichung, his home county, to bring “vision” and help with its development. Taichung has traditionally been a stronghold of opposition political forces.

Two former senior officials — former Council for Hakka Affairs Chairman Luo Wen-chia and former Vice Minister of Civil Service Lee Chun-yi — as well as several incumbent DPP legislators attended the news conference to lend their support for Chiu’s bid.

Chiu will face competition for his bid in the form of an ex-DPP legislator Lin Feng-hsi — but he said he was confident the DPP’s internal nomination system could resolve this.

The post to be vacated by Chiu will be filled by You Ying-lung, vice president of the Ketagalan Institute,an independent, non-partisan educational institution founded by President Chen Shui-bian in March 2003 to promote civic values.

You, 49, an academic-turned-politician, was previously a DPP deputy secretary-general and vice chairman of the Cabinet-level Research, Development and Evaluation Commission before becoming Ketagalan Institute vice president.

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