Taiwan policy forecast to increase tensions
Observers predict further squabbling between Beijing and Taiwan over the 'one China' concept after a new policy paper on the matter was issued in Taipei at the weekend.
'Seeing Through One China', prepared by Taiwan's Government Information Office, said it would be better to describe the present situation across the Taiwan Strait as 'one divided China'.
The new position, revealed by chief government spokesman Su Chi at a party for foreign diplomats, was issued to combat Beijing's 'tactic' of equating the concept of China with the People's Republic of China Government, he said.
The need to bring up a concept such as 'one China' indicated the nation was not yet unified, Mr Su said.
He accused Beijing of trying to 'verbally annex' Taiwan by working to convince foreign governments that Taiwan was part of the People's Republic of China, when it has never ruled the island.
The mainland's 'word trap' was laid to gain something it had never earned on the battlefield or in talks, and to bar the internationalisation of the Taiwan issue, he said.
The two sides have been arguing over the concept since 1949 and foreign governments that recognise Taiwan have quickly been given the cold shoulder by Beijing's rulers.
By the early 1990s, Taipei quietly began acknowledging Beijing's authority over the mainland by making references to the 'free area' of the Republic of China.
It has also effectively dropped its claim to being the sole Chinese government, although it has said it remains the Republic of China.
Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui has repeatedly urged leaders in Beijing to recognise the reality of political separation.
Beijing has responded by accusing Mr Lee of separatism and plotting Taiwan's independence.
Observers said yesterday that Taipei's latest policy statement would fuel further accusations of separatism from Beijing - and severely hamper relations.
An official in Beijing responsible for Taiwan affairs said Beijing would not accept Taipei's latest definition of 'one China'.
If Taipei continued coming out with 'confrontational' positions, cross-strait relations would ultimately be harmed, the official reportedly said.
President Jiang Zemin had control for the time being, Taiwan Defence Minister Chiang Chung-ling said, according to reports yesterday.
The 'unusual quietness' of the mainland indicated he had a grip on military power and his recent promotion of 240 generals was intended to help consolidate his connections with the military, Mr Chiang said.
But Mr Jiang's grip on power does not appear absolute and the orchestrated calm throughout the capital has led observers to fear that all may not be as serene as it looks.
On Saturday, the President received a key pledge of loyalty from the Army, which vowed that it would maintain stability under his leadership.
