Taiwanese Leader Says He’s Open to Talks With Beijing

Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian extended a hand to China today in a National Day speech, announcing that he was open to political relations with the mainland and would welcome direct charter flights across the tense Taiwan Strait.

Beijing officials did not immediately react. They have been highly skeptical of Chen’s previous initiatives, arguing that they were aimed more at earning political points at home and abroad than at easing tensions.

In his speech, Chen called for talks with Beijing based on a 1992 understanding over the interpretation of the “one China” principle. He acknowledged that that so-called understanding, under which both sides essentially agreed to disagree, was imperfect but could nevertheless form the basis of future improved relations.

China views the island as a rightful part of its territory and is deeply suspicious of recent moves in Taiwan as well as Chen personally. In effect, Beijing believes that Chen wants to move Taiwan toward independence.

“Any form of political relations between Taiwan and China is possible as long as Taiwan’s 23 million people agree,” Chen said.

The 1992 consensus on the “one China” principle failed to resolve any of the thorny ideological differences between the suspicious neighbors but ultimately paved the way for historic negotiations in Singapore.

The Taiwan Strait has become increasingly tense since Chen was reelected in March. Beijing says any move by Taipei that could lead to independence would result in war.

Senior leaders from China and Taiwan haven’t met since the Communists took power on the mainland in 1949. Chen said the lack of communication had spurred misunderstanding. “If the military threat continues, the distance between the two sides will grow larger.”

Andrew Yang, secretary-general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies based in Taipei, said it was debatable whether Beijing would put much stock in Chen’s speech. The difficulty, he said, is that both sides agreed in 1992 to put aside the issue of sovereignty and try to proceed on other fronts.

Chen, however, continues to urge Beijing to accept the “reality” of Taiwan’s present position, which in Chen’s mind amounts to de facto sovereignty, something China is not willing to accept, Yang said.

“He’s redefined the status quo,” Yang said. “But Beijing’s definition of the status quo is very different.”

A U.S. State Department spokesman called Chen’s speech a “constructive message.”