20050630

China orchestrates rare appearance for boy lama

AFP , BEIJING

A teenage boy being groomed by China to become the new Tibetan religious leader has been allowed to meet tens of thousands of people in a rare trip, state media said yesterday.

The 11th Panchen Lama, who is rarely seen in public, held head-touching ceremonies to bless more than 60,000 believers during a trip to Tibetan-inhabited areas of southwest China's Sichuan Province from June 12 to 28, the Xinhua news agency said.

The trip, which was broadcast on state television and widely covered in state media, could mean the government believes the 15-year-old -- who has been under its strict tutelage since he was five -- is ready for a more public role.

The news agency referred to the boy as "the highest leader of Tibetan Buddhism in China" -- which reflects the government's attempt to use him to rival the role of the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

China has occupied Tibet since 1950. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

Under Tibetan Buddhism, he ranks above the Panchen Lama.

The teenager, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, is widely seen as a Beijing puppet. He was chosen by the atheist Chinese regime in 1995, when he was five, as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama.

The Dalai Lama's own choice, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, disappeared from public view in 1995 and is believed to have been under a form of house arrest, if not dead, ever since.

Many devoted Tibetan Buddhists question the credentials of the Beijing-picked Panchen Lama.

Media reports yesterday said the boy was "warmly greeted" by believers, including 10,000 who congregated outside his residence waiting for a chance to see him.

It is common for China to stage-manage politically sensitive events, including screening or trucking in large numbers of people.

Xinhua said the visit was the first by the teenager to Sichuan, where the second largest population of Tibetans lives outside of restive Tibet itself.

The thousands who congregated to see the Beijing-picked Panchen Lama not only received head-touching ceremonies but also got him to touch portraits, badges and red diamond knots, Xinhua said.

The teenager toured dozens of counties of Sichuan and held religious rituals in more than 10 Tibetan Buddhist temples there, according to Xinhua.

Scores of Buddhist monks who had openly expressed opposition to Beijing's choice of Panchen Lama have been jailed, according to rights groups.

Lee Teng-hui slams plan to make TSU pro-China

BACKLASH: As the originator of a proposal to change the TSU's China policy tendered his resignation, the former president insisted on support for sovereignty

By Jewel Huang

STAFF REPORTER

"Former president Lee said if the TSU cannot hold on to its ideals of protecting Taiwan's sovereignty and advocating identification with local cultures, then there would be no meaning in the party's existence."

Cheng Cheng-lung, TSU secretary-general

In response to a proposal that the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) should change around its official policy to be more friendly toward China, the TSU's spiritual leader, former president Lee Teng-hui, yesterday demanded that the party insist on defending Taiwan's sovereignty and promoting identification with Taiwan's local culture, otherwise there would no meaning in its continued existence.

TSU Secretary-General Cheng Cheng-lung, who talked to Lee about the proposal on Tuesday, said yesterday that Lee was greatly concerned about the possible policy change and asked TSU Chairman Shu Chin-chiang to demonstrate the TSU's resolve to maintain its original policy.

The originator of the proposal, Lee Hsien-jen, director of the TSU's department of policy studies, yesterday announced his resignation in a bid to counteract the uproar his proposal has generated.

Lee Hsien-jen first proposed the idea that the TSU should reconsider its policies and attitudes toward China at an internal meeting held on Monday.

He suggested that the TSU might want to alter its tactics, since the party would eventually have to deal with China.

Lee Hsieh-jen yesterday declined to talk about the issue, saying only that his letter of resignation contains everything he has to say on the matter.

In the letter, Lee Hsien-jen said that he was sorry and felt guilty about causing a misunderstanding of the TSU among the public, as well as supporters' strong objections and former president Lee's apprehension as a result of his proposal.

He had triggered the whole incident and was willing to step down from his office immediately to take responsibility for suggesting the idea without first studying and researching it carefully, Lee Hsien-jen said in the letter.

In response to questions whether the TSU will also send a delegation to China, Cheng said that is was impossible for the TSU to have any interaction with China until Beijing recognizes Taiwan as an independent, sovereign nation.

"If any of our party member privately contacted Chinese officials in violation of the TSU's basic principles, we will expel them from the TSU and will not forgive them," Cheng said.

Taiwan at critical juncture, needs arms: Chen

CNA , TAIPEI

President Chen Shui-bian said yesterday that Taiwan is now at a critical juncture of metamorphosis on many fronts, including constitutional reform, the detente across the Taiwan Strait, diplomatic development and the upgrading of national defense.

Chen made the remarks while addressing a commissioning ceremony for 55 newly promoted generals and admirals.

"Over the years of development, Taiwan has become a liberal democracy. But it is now facing many new challenges," Chen said.

At this historical moment, the president said, Taiwan must establish an elite military force to guarantee a safe and stable environment for constitutional reform, cross-strait detente, civic participation in diplomatic affairs and refinement of defense capabilities.

As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Chen said he wants to join all service members in fulfilling the military's core values of "sacrifice, unity and accountability" with "courage, conviction and trust."

Noting that the ultimate goal of Taiwan's military buildup is to maintain a balance of military power with China, Chen said that Taiwan must establish an elite force strong enough to deter any invasion and repel any possible attack from China.

In recent years, senior US officials have frequently expressed concern about China's rapid military expansion and missile deployment, Chen said.

The soon-to-be-released Pentagon annual defense white paper is also expected to mention US concern about China's growing military power.

Chen said that three weaponry systems his administration has proposed to purchase from the US -- eight diesel-electric submarines, six Patriot PAC III anti-missile batteries and a squadron of 12 P-3C anti-submarine aircraft -- have been chosen after a comprehensive professional assessment and extensive public debate.

"We regret that the procurement plan has been excessively politicized. With the opposition-controlled Legislative Yuan refusing even to put the procurement package into its work agenda, our national defense network may have a loophole that could eventually upset the military balance in the Taiwan Strait and the entire Asia-Pacific region," Chen said.

He expressed hope that all military personnel can stand even more united and redouble their efforts to hone their combat prowess to safeguard national security and cross-strait stability.

With the evolution of modern warfare, Chen said, Taiwan must establish an all-volunteer military service system to upgrade the quality of service members, enhance combat prowess and boost military operational efficiency.

Noting that increasingly sophisticated weapons require trained professionals to operate them, Chen said the military must step up recruitment of volunteers so that these advanced weapons can be operated appropriately and for the weapons' efficacy to reach their fullest potential. A volunteer service system is also expected to increase job opportunities for young people, he added.

While congratulating the new generals and admirals, Chen also demanded that all senior officers further improve management mechanisms and risk-reduction measures to minimize accidents and casualties in military training programs and enhance safety in military barracks.

China says Vatican did not have a role in choosing bishop

AFP , SHANGHAI

China said yesterday the appointment of an auxiliary bishop in Shanghai had not been approved by the Vatican.

"He was chosen by our Shanghai Catholic community and was approved by the Chinese Catholic Bishops College," said an official with the Shanghai Religious Affairs Bureau, who refused to be named. "It has nothing to do with the Vatican."

Joseph Xing Wenzhi, a 42-year-old Chinese priest, was made auxiliary bishop in a ceremony on Tuesday led by Shanghai Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of the government-backed Catholic church who at the age of 89 is giving up many of his duties, officials at the religious affairs bureau said.

Xing, who becomes bishop in the official Chinese church, reportedly announced during the ceremony he had been nominated by the Holy See, suggesting that he received full backing from the Pope.

An auxiliary bishop is a titular bishop appointed by the Holy See, who does not have jurisdiction, but assists a ruling bishop of a diocese in carrying out the work of that diocese.

Some Catholic religious leaders said that they believe that Xing's selection could signal a tacit improvement in the traditionally frosty relationship.

Outspoken Hong Kong Bishop Joseph Zen said in an interview with Hong Kong radio RTHK that the appointment signaled a warmer approach to differences that have pitted the two sides against each other for the last 54 years.

"Recently there have been several similar [cases] to this: bishops appointed by the Holy See and allowed to be ordained," Zen said.

"The government always exercised much pressure so that they shouldn't make it public, but this time it's allowed to be made public," Zen said. "This is a breakthrough. It signifies a new openness of the government and is a very good step towards normalization with the Holy See."

He said the dialogue between sides remained "informal."

Beijing refuses to recognize the authority of the Vatican and the Pope over Chinese Catholics, who can only legally worship at state-sanctioned churches.

Establishing diplomatic relations with China is a priority for the Vatican, but Beijing has demanded the Vatican first break off diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The government church has about 4 million worshippers, according to official figures, while the underground church loyal to Rome has about 10 million, based on Vatican estimates.

Xing was born into a devoutly Catholic family in Shandong Province and has traveled extensively abroad, working as an educator for the Chinese Catholic church, said the Web site of the government-backed Catholic church.

US says it can defeat Pyongyang

NUCLEAR DILEMMA: Even if North Korea has one or two nuclear weapons, the US and South Korea will be able to defeat it if it tries to invade, a top commander said

AP , SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

A US military commander said that the US and South Korea could repel any attack by North Korea even if it has one or two nuclear bombs, as a top South Korean envoy headed yesterday to Washington to push for new disarmament talks with the North.

General Leon LaPorte, commander of the US military in South Korea, said he believes that North Korea has at least one or two nuclear weapons, but that the combined American and South Korean forces on the peninsula could deter or defeat any attack from the North.

Washington and Seoul "retain our ability to deter North Korean aggression and if required, to decisively defeat the North Korean threat if they were to threaten South Korea," LaPorte said in an interview with Seoul's PBC Radio.

North Korea claimed in February it had nuclear weapons and has since then made moves that would allow it to harvest more weapons-grade plutonium.

Meanwhile, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young was heading to Washington to meet with Vice President Dick Cheney and other US officials and lawmakers. Chung planned to discuss his recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who told Chung that Pyongyang could return to the stalled six-nation talks as early as next month -- if Washington respects it as a partner.

"We will continue diplomatic efforts, putting weight on the possibility of [North Korea's] return in July" as Kim has suggested, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters yesterday. "Through maximum diplomatic efforts, we will try to resume the talks in July."

Ban said a "positive atmosphere" has been created for resumption of the talks and that "it is desirable for North Korea to return to the talks without further delay ..."

North Korea has stayed away from arms talks -- also involving South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the US -- for more than a year.

Chung's Washington visit is aimed in part at dispelling US concerns over whether Kim will remain committed to his remarks hinting at a return to the nuclear negotiations, said Hong Seok-hyun, South Korea's ambassador to Washington.

The US has been skeptical of Kim's comments, urging North Korea to set a firm date to return to the arms talks.

"It is true there are doubts about whether words will lead to actions," Hong told South Korea's MBC Radio yesterday. "Minister Chung's visit to the United States is important for dispelling these."

TSU must get over its `China fever'

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Shu Chin-chiang Tuesday confirmed media reports that the TSU is reviewing its China policy. Though according to Shu the party has not come to any conclusions, the TSU is apparently now open to exchanges with China, so long as they are conducted on the basis of cross-strait parity and in line with a "three-noes" policy -- by which the party will be flexible about the conditions for meeting with Chinese officials, but will not initiate such contact.

It is shocking to hear that the TSU, which has long upheld the "Taiwan-first" spirit, is considering a revision of its China policy. It's especially surprising given that the TSU is at odds with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for its "betrayal of Taiwan consciousness" in cooperating with the People First Party.

The TSU is committing the same sins it accuses the DPP of committing. By dancing to the tune of "China fever" -- which the TSU seems to be doing, despite Shu's denial -- the party will disappoint its supporters, who voted for it because of its adherence to a Taiwan-centered consciousness.

If the TSU tries to follow in the footsteps of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the PFP in cross-strait visits, it will lose its distinct political character and voters will abandon it in the year-end election. The National Assembly election in May has shown that the majority of voters were unimpressed by the "China fever" triggered by KMT Chairman Lien Chan and PFP Chairman James Soong's trips to China in April.

It may be commendable that the TSU would try to help break the current cross-strait stalemate by pursuing possible cross-strait contacts. But there's little reason to think the TSU will be successful where even the sycophantic pan-blue camp has failed. President Chen Shui-bian's long effort to establish direct contact with the Chinese leadership has been to no avail, due to the Chinese leadership's stubborn insistence on Taiwan's acceptance of the "one China" principle as a precondition for talks.

The KMT and PFP have surrendered to the "one China" principle in exchange for Beijing's favor. Will the TSU accept the "one China" principle in order to establish cross-party exchanges with the Chinese Communist Party? If the party sticks to its core policy of "one country on each side" of the Taiwan Strait -- as Shu claimed on Tuesday -- how could it possibly delude itself into thinking that China will roll out the red carpet?

In May's election, the TSU had an opportunity to win votes away from pan-green camp supporters who were disillusioned with Chen's constant waffling on cross-strait relations. Instead, it playing the wrong card -- opposing constitutional reform -- and so saw its influence diminished even more.

The year-end election for city mayors and county commissioners is only five months away, and the TSU can't afford to make another political mistake. The TSU should put an end to further discussion on revising its China policy, and as soon as possible.

In a bid to ease supporters' criticism, TSU Department of Policy Studies Director Lee Hsien-jen, who is said to have initiated the revision, yesterday shouldered responsibility for the ensuing controversy and resigned. But the party leadership still owes its supporters an official clarification.

The TSU should stick to what it believes to be right and continue cultivating the public's Taiwan consciousness as Taiwan's strongest back-up in the face of China's political and military threats.