China looks to better ties with Taiwan
By Katherine Arms
Published 1/25/2002 8:02 AM
HONG KONG, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- China invited Taiwan's leaders to visit the mainland in official capacities in an apparent change of policy revealed in an editorial in China's official newspaper.
In an editorial Friday, The People's Daily urged Taiwan to use this "golden opportunity" to travel to the mainland. The editorial was printed one day after Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen called for increased cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.
At a news conference in Taipei, Chen Ming-tong, one of Taiwan's leading officials on China, said, "We are happy to see the other side issue a message that is conducive to positive interaction between the two sides." He described Beijing's invitation as "important and positive."
China's new policy distinguishes the leaders of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progress Party from a "handful of 'pro-independence' diehards in Taiwan," the newspaper said.
China considered Taiwan a breakaway province and in the past has said it wants the island under Beijing rule. Taiwan has been nominally independent since communists took over the mainland in 1949 but China wants it to assume a political position similar to Hong Kong and Macao.
On Thursday, Qian invited members of the Democratic People's Party to visit the mainland, saying only a small number of pro-separatists belonged to the party. He said it was time for the Chinese and Taiwan leaders to have talks regarding cross-strait cooperation.
"It is imperative to realize direct mail, shipping and trade services across the Taiwan Strait, as the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are now members of the World Trade Organization," he said.
The People's Daily made the appeal to Taiwan on the seventh anniversary of President Jiang Zemin's eight-point plan for reconciliation with the island and weeks before President George W. Bush meets with Jiang in Beijing.
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