Dear Mr. Trent Lott,
         Mr. Newt Gingrich,
         Mrs. Madeleine Korbel Albright,

Taiwan welcomes mainland China's plans to post journalists in Taiwan for long-term news coverage.

The cabinet-level council was responding to a newspaper report that said Beijing plans to allow state owned new media, including Xinhua News Agency, the People's Daily and China Central Television station, to post resident correspondents in Taiwan.

We would be delighted to see such a plan become a reality; because mainland China has never shown a positive attitude toward regular cross-strait news exchanges. So; we hope mainland authorities will come up with more detailed measures for our reference.

On the other hand Taiwan has adopted an open-minded attitude toward cross-strait news exchanges.

In our view; cross-strait news exchanges can be conducted on a reciprocal basis.

Taiwan is a democratic country has never banned mainland reporters from applying to cover news on the island, adding that mainland journalists are welcome to cover the island's three critical elections scheduled for Dec. 5.

President LeeTeng-hui said yesterday (Oct 24, 1998) that all the people living on Taiwan are masters of the island, and that they have a common responsibility to work diligently together for the bright future to the island. Lee said "All of us who live and grow up on this piece of land are Taiwanese and the real masters of Taiwan."

"Taiwan's citizens have made common contributions to the development of the island in the past, and have a common responsibility for Taiwan's future, and all people on Taiwan should bring the spirit of the new Taiwanese."

On above reasons; we hope Beijing authorities will allow state owned news media come to Taiwan for island's three critical elections, as soon as possible.

However; we need your support.