Ma pledges to uphold Constitution on ties

But he reiterated his invitation to opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen for a meeting where they could "talk rationally" about cross-strait relations.

He made the remarks in a live interview by Radio Taiwan International, in a program that was also broadcast to China.

Ma said improved cross-strait ties will help remove many of the obstacles that Taiwan faces in trying to expand its international participation.

But his administration will not have wishful thinkings and will handle its ties with Beijing cautiously.

He vowed to follow the ROC Constitution and the so-called "1992 consensus" between Taipei and Beijing that the "one China" concept is open to different interpretations.

Cross-strait ties stalled during the eight years since the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party ousted Ma's Kuomintang in 2000, but have improved fast since Ma became president.

But the pace of the thaw has alarmed the DPP, which claims that the improvement is coming at the expense of the country's sovereignty.

The opposition camp last month staged massive demonstrations against the visit by China's top envoy Chen Yunlin. The demonstrations were tainted by violence.

Ma said the October demonstrations, and another by the opposition camp in August, mainly reflected the people's economic needs, as well as some of the protesters' worries about fast-tracked cross-strait ties.

"These protesters were worried that Taiwan and China were getting so close, and it might create negative impact on Taiwan," said Ma.

"But such worries, we can discuss them and talk rationally, resolving them through communication," the president added.

But DPP Secretary General Wang Tuoh said Ma must clearly spell out his agenda for his proposed talk with Tsai, the party's chairwoman.

Wang said it would be meaningless if Ma was just looking to boost his fast dropping popularity by holding the meeting with Tsai.

Ma's popularity ratings have been dropping fast because of the current economic woes, and they have not been helped much by the thaw in cross-strait tensions.

But Ma claimed success for KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan's recent attendance as his envoy at the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Lien, a former vice president, was the most prominent figure ever appointed as Taiwan's presidential envoy to the summit, and he took part in it on an equal footing with other APEC leaders, Ma said.

The president said he was deeply moved by Lien's presence at the APEC event, as Taiwan, which has long hoped to have a voice in the international community, "has made it at APEC" for the first time.

"If we deal with cross-strait relations properly, our space in this aspect will probably increase as well," Ma said.

Ma said Taiwan and China should also make peace in the international scene.

Taiwan's relations with its diplomatic allies over the past six months have also been enhanced by improved cross-strait relations, he said.

He said the government hopes to achieve greater progress in promoting Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly and will raise the with China during future cross-strait talks.

With the next round of cross-strait talks likely to take place in the first half of next year, Ma said the government will prioritize long-delayed economic issues such as the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in financial supervision and regulations, cooperation on fighting crime and the signing of an investment protection pact.

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