posted April 28, 2000 10:43 AM
TAIPEI, April 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan President-elect Chen Shui-bian has rejected Beijing's demand that he embrace its cherished "one China" policy or face disaster, saying the island has been forced into a corner and needed room to breathe."Our profile has been very low to improve relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," Chen told supporters at a stadium in the northern county of Hsinchu late on Thursday.
"But the opposite side of the Strait has been tough," Che said. "We have been forced into a corner and are not allowed to breathe. We will die if we don't breathe."
Chen's remarks -- some of his strongest on China since sweeping to power in elections last month -- came hours after Tang Shubei, one of Beijing's top negotiators with Taipei, turned up the heat.
Tang said disaster and confrontation were in store if Taipei rejected Beijing's "one China" policy. However, Tang appeared to leave room for compromise by saying Beijing would give Taipei equal status in any talks under the "one China" policy.
But Chen poured cold war on the "one China" ideal, saying it could be the agenda of future dialogue but not a precondition.
"If I accept, how can Ah bian be qualified to be the president of the Republic of China," said Chen, who is known to his supporters as "Ah bian." The Republic of China is Taiwan's official name.
TENSION RUNNING HIGH
Tension between Taipei and Beijing has been running high since Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party espouses independence from China, won the elections to end more than five decades of Nationalist rule in Taiwan.
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has threatened to invade if the island declared independence.
Chen has soft-pedalled on his pro-independence stand, but Beijing is unconvinced and has said it would watch him closely.
Taiwan is home to the remnants of the exiled Republic of China government founded by the Nationalists in 1912. The Communists routed the Nationalists in a civil war on the mainland five decades ago.
Chen accused Beijing of reneging on what he said was an agreement in 1992 under which the two sides could each have their own definition of "one China."
Beijing insists there was never any consensus on different interpretations of "one China." Beijing says there is one China in the world -- the People's Republic of China founded by the the Communists in 1949.
"This is the beginning of distrust," Chen said. "In future, how can we believe what is said when and by whom."
Nevertheless, Chen told Taiwan Cardinal Paul Shan on Friday that the democratic island sought "everlasting peace" with its giant communist neighbour.
"Seeking everlasting peace is not only our top rational goal but also the moral obligation of leaders," he said.
U.S. MILITARY TIES DEAL OFF
In Washington, Senate Republicans, concerned about further inflaming tensions between China and Taiwan, have quietly agreed to put off any action on a controversial bill to bolster U.S. military ties with Taipei, congressional staffers said.
China has warned that passage of the bill, already approved by a February vote of 341-70 in the House of Representatives, would result in "very serious damage" to Sino-American relations and the White House has threatened to veto it.
Alaska Republican Senator Frank Murkowski, who visited Taiwan last week, told Senate Republicans this week that Chen and outgoing President Lee Teng-hui had both appealed to delay a vote on the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, which would establish direct military ties with Taipei, but antagonise Beijing.