'Economics first' in cross-strait policy: SEF

However, Chiang said in the interview conducted in Taipei before the Chinese New Year that despite the Taiwanese government's hopes to tackle economic issues before political ones, some political controversies with China may surface sooner or later in the process of building closer cross-strait ties.

Nonetheless, at this time, the discussion of some less sensitive issues with China may not necessarily result in a political standoff in Taiwan, he added, noting that, for example, the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) both want Taiwan to participate in this year's World Healthy Assembly (WHA) as an observer.

As for the fears expressed by the DPP that negotiations and the closer ties with China will jeopardize Taiwan's sovereignty, Chiang said that there only two ways to consolidate Taiwan's sovereignty. The first is through the adoption and practice of democracy, and the second is through stable and prosperous economic development, he said.

Saying that actions speak louder than words, Chiang expressed the view that the opposition party cannot protect Taiwan's sovereignty just by advocating independence for the island.

“If Taiwan can one day become a highly democratic country, a free and just nation ruled by the law, governed by the people, a country that is free of any violent and radical activities, I am sure that the people of China will not only respect us but will also envy our political maturity.” Chiang said.

In addition, Taiwan must achieve economic prosperity before it can hope to provide assistance to the developing nations of the world or to obtain the support and approval of the international community, he suggested.

“The main goals of the KMT and the DPP are similar, as both parties hope to provide a stable and harmonious living environment for Taiwan's people,” Chiang said.

However, while the two parties share similar goals, they have chosen different ways to achieve them, Chiang noted. The KMT has chosen to maintain the status quo in cross-strait relations, while the DPP has insisted that the only way to achieve harmony and stability in the society is by establishing a new nation free of any ties to China, he said.

Taiwan's SEF and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) serve as semi-official intermediary bodies in the absence of official contact between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

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