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Ma moving ahead with China
MISQUOTING?The president held an impromptu press
conference last night to say that AP misquoted him in saying he had connected
political talks to his second term
AP, BEIJING
President Ma Ying-jeou (°¨^¤E) yesterday said he is open to a political dialogue
with China once remaining economic issues are resolved, though he gave no
timetable for when those discussions might start.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Ma credited his outreach to China,
which has so far centered on trade and commercial ties, with easing tensions in
one of East Asia¡¦s longest-running feuds.
Ma said the warmer relations between Taipei and Beijing had also benefited the
US, Taipei¡¦s most important military benefactor.
Although China has been more assertive as its wealth grows, Ma said it would
likely find ways to work with other countries in Asia and will not jeopardize
the region¡¦s economic growth.
Although Ma struck generally positive tones about China¡¦s future, he made it
clear he did not intend to push Taiwan into a political agreement that would
hasten Beijing¡¦s long-stated goal of unification.
Between the poles of union and separation, AP reported that Ma said his
government was prepared to discuss political agreements, including security
issues, as soon as the priority economic issues are dealt with. He said
political talks could start as early as a second four-year term if he wins
re-election in 2012.
¡§We are not intentionally delaying the talks on political issues. Certainly the
economic ones are more important to people here. People also support the idea
[of] economy first, politics later,¡¨ Ma said.
A few hours after the AP interview was released, however, Ma called an impromptu
press conference to make what he said were necessary clarifications, saying he
did not set a timetable for starting political talks with China, nor had he set
any preconditions for unification.
The AP interview said that Ma suggested political talks could start as early as
his second four-year term if he wins re-election in 2012.
¡§[The AP] story said that we are prepared to discuss politics and political
talks could start in my second term. There was some discrepancy between the
story and what I said. In my answers, I never linked political talks and my
second term,¡¨ Ma said.
What I said was that the government would not start political talks with China
before it completed negotiations on economic issues, which have just begun.
Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (ù´¼±j) said that the Government
Information Office had asked AP to make corrections, adding that the
Presidential Office would release Chinese and English transcriptions of the
interview.
Among the crucial economic agreements that first need to be tackled, Ma said,
are those on investment guarantees, ways to resolve disputes and tariff and
other barriers to the two sides more than US$100 billion in trade.
The remarks underscore how Ma¡¦s policy toward China is evolving as Taipei and
Beijing look to build on their growing economic ties.
Criticized by opponents at home for moving too far too fast, Ma promised anew
that his China opening would move only in step with the public, which polls show
is overwhelmingly in favor of a continuation of Taiwan¡¦s continued de facto
independence.
¡§The most important strategy is to make the leadership in Beijing not even
consider invading Taiwan because that would hurt their interests too,¡¨ Ma said.
He called the presence of the missiles ¡§an illogical situation¡¨ given the
thousands of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan on any given day.
Even so, Taipei would upgrade its defense and in doing so continue to rely on
Washington for assistance, Ma said. He reiterated his request to the US for
F-16C/D fighter aircraft to replace older fighters still stands, even though
Beijing has warned against any sale.
¡§We are not seeking war with any country,¡¨ he said. ¡§This is very much
understood in Washington. Of course China continues to oppose [arms sales]. So
we have made it very clear that to maintain the adequate defense of Taiwan is
the intention.¡¨
Defusing tensions between Taiwan and China helps make Washington¡¦s relations
with Beijing less complicated, Ma said.
While the US, Japan and Southeast Asian countries have recently criticized China
for more aggressively asserting claims to disputed territories and straining
tensions, Ma said none would undermine the prosperity that the region¡¦s security
rests on.
¡§Asia is the growth engine of the world,¡¨ Ma said. ¡§No country would do
something stupid to change that prosperous future.¡¨
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