August 14, 2000 --- To: Trent Lott, Denny Hastert, Walter Schwimmer, Hans Christian Kruger

[ Up ]

Dear Mr. Trent Lott,
　　 Mr. Denny Hastert,
　　 Mr. Secretary General Walter Schwimmer,
　　 Mr. Deputy Secretary General Hans Christian Kruger,

It is my pleasure to offer you a new information that relating about Taiwan.

Calling on Beijing to resume institutional dialogue in the spirit of 1992, when both sides agreed to disagree over the "one China" principle, President Chen Shui-bian held out olive branches urge to defuse mistrust blocking rapprochement.

"Where there is dialogue, there is contact; where there is contact, there is a consensus," Chen told a news conference at the Presidential Office. "Let's conduct mutual ties along the guideline of 'dialogue, exchange and shelving disputes.'"

A stalwart of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Chen circumvented the "one China" caveat altogether this time, noting previous overtures have failed to elicit goodwill from across the strait.

"I'll continue to pursue thawed relations although some have warned me not to make more friendly gestures," Chen said.

He claimed no knowledge of secret exchanges between the two sides during the early 1990's, saying his predecessor made not mention of such contacts during the transition.

Su Chih-cheng, a close aide to Lee, admitted earlier he held a series of stealthy talks with mainland officials in Hong Kong and other venues between 1990 and 1995 to balm bilateral ties.

Chen, who formerly backed private efforts to mediate the cross-strait impasse, now lent full weight to the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to deal on Taipei's behalf with its mainland counterpart, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.

"I see no need to involve additional parties in the negotiation," said the president, attributing his shift to the fear of complicating the sovereignty row. "SEF Chairman Koo Chen-fu and his institute have done a good job," he held.

The president, however, welcomed the United States to assume a more active role in maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, noting the island has embodied values treasured by the super power -- namely democracy and freedom.

Asked if he intends to relax the ban on direct trade and transport across the strait, Chen pointed out that links -- at any level -- cannot be materialized without talks to remove related legal obstacles.

The former ruling party, with a majority control of the parliament, has pressed a coalition government on the president, who has flatly denounced the idea as political blackmail.

"With or without majority support, I have no intention of forming a coalition government," Chen reaffirmed. "The people will ultimately vote out politicians at odds with promoting common good," Chen warned.

The Cabinet has suffered repeated setbacks in trying to translate Chen's campaign promises into public policy.

"I don't consider it imperative to amend the governmental design," he said, suggesting instead rival parties bury their differences and help his administration serve the people.

To restore people's confidence in the government, Chen declared it is time the ministries take steps against corruption and organized crime -- two topmost concerns of the citizenry.

July 14, 2000 ---
US Defense Secretary William Cohen visit to China's economic powerhouse comes as the US Senate appeared to be close to agreement on bringing a landmark Sino-US trade pact to a vote this month.

After talks here dominated by US-Chinese differences on a range of security matters, Cohen is expected to stress that Washington sees China's integration into global economy as a plus for stability and prosperity.　

He said President Bill Clinton was determined to win Permanent Normal Trading Relations for China, which had been threatened with delays in the Senate.

Senate leaders worked behind closed doors to overcome an impasse over whether to hold the Senate vote this month or wait until the fall when it was likely to play into the US presidential elections.

Cohen, who raised US proliferation concerns with Chinese leaders here, told a news conference that China had made "major contributions" by jointing international regimes such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Chemical Weapons Convention.

PNTR would end the practice of annual reviews of China's trade status and grant Chinese goods the same low tariffs enjoyed by all but a handful of countries. In exchange, China agreed to open its markets to US businesses.

In our view; we have found the widen gaps over issues of missile defense program on preventing rogue states from attacking United States, and its alliance. Beijing has given many warnings to Washington.

On the other hand; who could punish any future illegal weapons proliferation by China?

If ROC is not a country, that we are all criminals of nation, because of democratic system is whole Taiwanese wishes.　

On the other hand; we lived in Taiwan with free speaking, freedom, ruled by ourselves, respect human rights, prosperous life with opening society that had no business with mainland because Taiwan issue is country's affair.

To tell the reality; Taiwan issue is not only internal affairs of China. Due to fear the threat from China, many Taiwanese people can not say the truth over mainland’s regime.

We support special state-to-state, Taiwanese people has no time for separation on political issue over Taiwan-Strait, whole parties need cooperation to deal negotiation with Beijing.

For last words; Taiwan needs your help.