Taiwan is not a trouble-maker, Ma says

Rather, it is a peace-maker, Ma was quoted by the Central News Agency as saying.

He spoke on “Taiwan’s New Thinking” at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, according to CNA dispatches from Singapore.

As China is rising as an economic power, Taiwan needs closer cooperation with its neighbors and the rest of the world, said Ma, who doubles as chairman of the Kuomintang and a front-runner in the 2008 presidential race.

In a question and answer period following the speech, Ma said China does not have to fear a change in the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing is afraid Taiwan is leaning toward independence.

China should have no fear, Ma said, because by far a great majority of the people in Taiwan want to keep the status quo.

The Kuomintang is the largest party in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, he went on. “Independence has never been an option for our party,” he said.

He said Taiwan has to refrain from declaring independence, changing its national title, including in the Constitution what is known as a “special state-to-state relationship,” getting involved deeper in the issue over independence against unification, and terminating the National Unification Council.

On the other hand, Ma said, Taiwan has to accept the one-China principle and the consensus of 1992, start dialogue with China, form a Chinese common market, strengthen cultural exchange with China and take a more active part in international activities.

“Then,” Ma pointed out, “there will be peace across the Taiwan Strait.”

At the same time, Taiwan has to keep good relations with China and the United States, Ma added.

Asked when Taiwan would resume dialogue with China, Ma answered time isn’t ripe yet now. “Neither side is ready for it yet,” he said.

How about Deng Xiaoping’s “one country, two systems” formula?

Ma said Taiwan is unlikely to accept that formula, under which Hong Kong is now ruled by China.

But he emphasized the important role Singapore played in 1993.

The consensus of 1992, under which both Beijing and Taipei acknowledge one China, whose connotation can be individually and orally stated, made it possible for C. F.Koo, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Daohan in Singapore in 1993.

Wang was chairman of the Association of Relations across the Taiwan Strait.

It was the first high-level meeting between Taiwan and China since President Chiang Kai-shek moved his government to Taipei at the end of 1949.

Many agreements were reached and signed in Singapore to solve a few outstanding issues across the Taiwan Strait.

Lee Kuan Yew, who led Singapore out of the Federation of Malaysia, and his son Lee Hsien Lung, the premier, met Ma at noon, the Chinese Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Ma left for Singapore last Saturday for a two-day visit. He will leave for Australia today and return to Taipei on Thursday.

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