Gov't denies China 'track two' link

The United Daily News, citing the Hong Kong based Yazhou Zhoukan weekly, reported yesterday that Taiwan will try to integrate the resources of several think tanks by forming a “track two” platform, with Su Chi, the former secretary-general of the National Security Council, as its head.

The report said the move was being made in line with a Beijing plan to push a “Haixi,” or western part of the Taiwan Strait, formula in streamlining its engagement with Taiwan.

Taiwan and China currently handle communications through two quasi-officials bodies set up in the absence of official ties — Taipei's Straits Exchange Foundation and Beijing's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits.

Su, who is on a visit to the United States, issued a denial via his aides, saying the reports were totally “untrue.”

Meanwhile, the two think tanks that were reportedly involved — the Cross-Strait Interflow Prospect Foundation (CSIPF) and the Foundation on Asia-Pacific Peace Studies (FAPPS) — also dismissed the reports as “groundless.”

The CSIPF said in a statement that the reports were just “speculation,” while the FAPPI acknowledged it did invite Su to serve as a volunteer adviser, but that the invite had nothing to do with the reported platform.

According to the weekly, the Communist Party of China's Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, chaired by President and party General Secretary Hu Jintao, will set up a “Taiwan Affairs Committee” in Fujian Province, located on the western bank of the Taiwan Straits, to launch broader engagements with Taiwan.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email