Vice-Premier Qian Qichen has sent a conciliatory message to the incoming US administration stressing flexibility in dealing with cross-strait ties.
In an interview published by the Washington Post on Thursday, Mr Qian said he wished to clarify Beijing's stance on Taiwan by saying 'anything could be discussed' as long as the 'one China' principle was adhered to - including the possibility of a loose confederation with Taiwan.
'We said the mainland and Taiwan belong to the same 'one China'. I think it can help ease their doubt,' Mr Qian told the US paper.
Mr Qian's comments - although more important for their semantics than any major shift in policy - are being seen as the first step of a charm offensive to seek a smooth start to relations with president-elect George W. Bush.
Douglas Paal, president of the Asia-Pacific Policy Centre and a member of the National Security Council in the previous Bush administration, was quoted by the paper as saying Beijing was sending signals that it was prepared to work with the administration and not make unreasonable demands.
Last year, Mr Qian first put forward the notion of 'equality' in cross-strait relations to replace the old concept that Taiwan was part of China. It was then seen as a subtle softening of stance.
During the interview with the paper - conducted in the Zhongnanhai compound, the headquarters of Beijing's top leaders - Mr Qian repeatedly urged the incoming administration not to view Beijing as a 'strategic competitor'.
