| Subjects: |
- Taiwan's election; Small three direct links; Chung Hwa Travel Service; President-elect's visit to the Mainland
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MAC Vice Chairman Chong-Pin Lin
at the March 24, 2000 Press Conference
His Report:
The March 18 election marked a step forward in Taiwan's democratic development, which scholars describe as a transfer of political power from one party to another that ushers in a period of consolidated democracy. The outcome of the election, as time goes by, will have a pronounced impact on Mainland China. Although the Mainland authorities and media have downplayed Taiwan's election, the results will be omnipresent throughout internet. Mainland internet users totaled 2.1 million early last year has increased to 8.9 million in a year. The total number of users is estimated to rise to 20 million by the end of 2000. Though not every user can access information about Taiwan, overseas Mainland Chinese may pass the information of Taiwan's democratization through at least 30 websites to people on the Mainland. Mainland Chinese will be increasingly questioning why Taiwan can (hold a presidential election) and China can not.
As a customary practice, political appointees of the outgoing government will tender their resignation before the new president assumes office. MAC will continue its operation as a caretaker government agency with "business as usual." Every MAC department will maintain its regular operation.
Moreover, I wish to comment on a few things about media's coverage of cross-strait affairs. When assigned to this beat, you (reporters) can only cover MAC and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) for news on cross-strait affairs. This kind of assignment is not very reasonable. In fact, cross-strait interactions and development do not refer to the operations of MAC and SEF only. I hope that you can define MAC as a coordinator among higher, lower, and lateral government agencies. Right from its outset, MAC was not designated to be a decision-maker, but a designer, coordinator, and reviewer of Mainland policies and the executor of some programs. Therefore, a more reasonable arrangement (of covering news on Mainland affairs) should allow reporters to access persons in the concerned agencies, the National Security Council, Mainland study centers at universities, and other thinktanks. It would be unadvisable to separate cross-strait relations from Mainland China's domestic developments. Reporters working for major international media handle cross-strait affairs from a comprehensive perspective. The way the Taiwan media allocate beats by government agency is a biased practice established during the time of authoritarian system. In other words, only the information from government agencies was news, and other opinions carried no weight at all. In a pluralistic society today, and with complicated cross-strait situation, the information (concerning cross-strait affairs) spread through mass communication to the people would be both sketchy and fragmental, if the old practice remained. So, coverage of Mainland affairs, cross-strait relations and international developments should be integrated so that you can access to all developments and opinions and that the media can be more responsible to the society.
Questions and Answers:
The Issue of “Small Three Direct Links”
Q. MAC seems to be in self-conflict over liberalizing Kinmen and Matsu with "small three direct links" before and after the presidential election. What is the real stance of MAC?
A. The liberalization of so-called "small three direct links" was not initiated by the government but by legislators just before the recess of this Legislative Yuan (LY) session. The government was caught off guard then, but now has enough time and the responsibility to give it a second thought. Therefore, Premier Vincent Siew decided yesterday to have Vice Premier Liu Chao-shiaun set up a task force to further review the bill (especially Article 18), its impact on national security, cross-strait relations and trade, and to consult with legislators before presenting it to the cabinet meeting for further discussion. The cabinet will decide later whether it is necessary to ask the LY for a second reading, and the decision will be made at the next cabinet meeting. MAC believes the liberalization involves issues that cut across many areas, thus requires a package of support measures. It is not advisable to force this liberalization. Therefore, it needs more review and study.
MAC's View on President-elect Chen Shui-bian to visit the US before Inauguration
Q. U.S. Senator Frank H. Murkowski welcomes President-elect Chen Shui-bian to visit the United States before his inauguration. Beijing opposed this and expressed tough words, saying that it would watch closely Chen's behavior and words from now to the time of his inauguration. Please comment on the attitude expressed by the United States and the PRC.
A. MAC will not comment on what U.S. people say. However, from a general point of view, I think that resentment should be relinquished, and this can refer to three dimensions. First, it is unwise for Beijing to always express its resentment to Washington. If Beijing leaders can be more flexible and get rid of their resentment, it will contribute to world peace. But, if they hold on to their resentment in handling Beijing-Washington and cross-strait relations, it will have negative affect on all three sides. Second, cross-strait relations can be deduced by the same analogy. If we stick to our resentment, it will be unwise. So, we should give up resentment and handle cross-strait relations from a rational and pragmatic angle. Third, the same logic works for Taiwan society. The minority should abandon its resentment and handle relations with the majority in a broad mind. If resentment at the three levels can be relinquished, it will serve the entire world, the region, society and people. (Resentment refers a feeling of revenge for the grievance one suffers earlier that justifies the use of radical means.)
The Visa Issue of the ROC Representative to Hong Kong
Q. Mr. Yam Chi-Ming, a Hong Kong lawyer, charged that the Chung Hwa Travel Service, ROC representative office in Hong Kong, is an illegal organization and opposed the issuance of a visa to Chang Liang-jen, the assigned representative to Hong Kong. How are you going to handle these two cases?
A. The representative office in Hong Kong was established in accordance with the mutual understanding between Taiwan and Hong Kong and has functioned for a long time. As all of you know, the Chung Hwa Travel Service is there to promote Taiwan-Hong Kong exchanges, not as a profit-making business. So, whether it has a license is irrelevant. Whether it is necessary to register is of lesser importance. The most important thing is how to bring its function into full play to effectively advance Taiwan-Hong Kong exchanges and trade. Chang is at the functionary level, and is not a political appointee. He does not have to resign along with the cabinet. His confirmation of assignment is still being arranged.
Q. Do you plan to visit the U.S. next week?
A. No.
Q. The new administration seems to give Hong Kong and Macao less weight (in foreign relations). Do you have any advice for the new administration in handling its relations with Hong Kong and Macao?
A. This should be addressed by the new administration.
Report on Mainland Metal Ships surrounded the Tungyin Islet Offshore Taiwan
Q. Reportedly, Mainland fishermen have surrounded the Tungyin islet with metal ships, after the government considered liberalizing the "small three direct links" for Kinmen and Matsu. Can you confirm this report?
A. I only learned of this matter from the media. I will give you a report later.
Q. What is the government's rational for liberalizing the "small three direct links" in Kinmen and Matsu? Should the EY ask for a second reading of the bill, how can it persuade the LY?
A. I am not very clear about the details. Vice Chairman Wu An-chia is in charge of this matter. If you desire, the person-in-charge can explain this to you.
Q. President-elect Chen expressed more than one time his hope to visit Mainland China before his inauguration on May 20. But, the Mainland side said Chen could visit the Mainland only under the "one-China principle". How likely is Chen to visit Mainland China?
A. I cannot act in place of Chen and Mainland authorities to answer this question.
The Concept of "Taiwan Strait Peace Zone"
Q. Before the presidential election, Vice President Lien Chan introduced the idea of a "Taiwan Strait Peace Zone", a concept very much in the same vein of the liberalization of the "small three direct links." However, your statement just now seems to be in great conflict with your interpretation of Lien's proposal before the election. Why has there been a policy shift?
A. I explained that already.
| The MAC News Briefing is an English transcript of the weekly news conference held by the Mainland Affairs Council. We try our best to provide an accurate English translation. In case of discrepancy, the Chinese text rules. |