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Politics : War -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: average joe who wrote (739)	1/23/2001 9:51:15 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23908

I think that comment by the Falun Gong member represents the best possibility.. This could be a propaganda ploy by the Chinese to cast FG as being self-destructive. If you opt to commit suicide with gasoline, you should wind up with more that facial burns. When I read that article, suddenly visions of Vietnamese Buddhist monks came to mind, sitting in a yoga stance, as the gas-fired flames burned them to a crisp. The US role in Vietnam suddenly changed after that event and the assassination of Diem. If this burning incident is true, it could both repulse the non-falun gong folks, while stirring radicalization by the FG membership, as they see others are willing to take radical steps to establish their rights. I still think it was a CI operation by Chinese intelligence. But if not, it could get real interesting in China. Regards, Ron

To: average joe who wrote (739)	1/23/2001 11:07:40 PM
From: Rolla Coasta	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23908

well joe, be a farmer. It's healthy for everyone. Peace on the horizon... china.scmp.com JASON BLATT in Taipei and DANIEL KWAN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China yesterday sounded a positive note on mending ties with Taiwan, but still insisted that the island must embrace the "one China" principle as a prerequisite. Speaking at a forum on Taiwan issues in Beijing yesterday, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen again promised "anything can be discussed" if Taiwan could "agree that we [the mainland and Taiwan] belong to the same country". "The 'one China' that we advocate is a China that includes both the mainland and Taiwan," Mr Qian was quoted by Xinhua as saying. "We have taken such a position because we want to demonstrate our sincerity about peaceful unification and respect of the will of our compatriots in Taiwan. This [one-China principle] does not favour any one side of the Taiwan Strait but both." Although the Vice-Premier's remarks did not significantly deviate from Beijing's past position, his speech sounded more conciliatory than previous statements by top officials. Mr Qian also apparently extended an olive branch to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has not yet dropped Taiwan independence from its party charter, saying Beijing was willing to co-operate with those who had "advocated, engaged in and pursued Taiwan independence as long as they gave up their 'splittist' stance". "We will then be willing to jointly explore and promote the development of a relationship across the Taiwan Strait," he said. Without identifying President Chen Shui-bian by name, the Vice-Premier called on him to stop evading the question of "one China". "The leader of Taiwan has already said that 'one China' should not be an issue," Mr Qian said, referring to a speech by Mr Chen to mark the new century. "Then why not say clearly [he] accepts the 'one China' principle." On the issue of establishing legal direct transport between the two sides, Mr Qian again said Beijing had no objection as long as such services were conducted as traffic within the same country. "We can quickly establish the link as long as we treat the three links across the Taiwan Strait as internal matters of one country," Mr Qian said. Taiwan last month legalised the so-called "mini-three links" between its Quemoy and Matsu islands with two cities in Fujian province. Senior Taiwan officials have since said then Taipei would consider full direct trade, transport and communications links with the mainland if Beijing responded favourably and the "mini-three links" worked smoothly. While Mr Qian sounded conciliatory, Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, took a tougher line. Speaking at the same forum as Mr Qian, Mr Chen Yunlin said advocates of Taiwan independence were courting disaster. "We hope the DPP . . . will wake up to the fact that Taiwan independence is nothing but an unrealisable fantasy that would only bring disaster to Taiwan," he said. Taiwan officials reacted coolly to Mr Qian's remarks, but raised expectations for a possible friendly response from President Chen tommorrow when he delivers a Lunar New Year address. Tsai Ing-wen, chairwoman of the Cabinet's Mainland Affairs Council who is visiting San Francisco, down-played Beijing's latest overture. "These things have been said before recently, so our reaction will be about the same," said Ms Tsai. "We can feel that on the mainland side, some flexibility has been expressed recently."