Anti-secession law does not apply to Taiwan, says Ambassador
Rome (AsiaNews) A law passed by Beijing cannot determine Taiwan's international relations, says Chou-seng Tou, the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See, after China's National People's Congress adopted an anti-secession law that allows the use of force should Taiwan declares independence.
In an interview with AsiaNews, Mr Chou-seng Tou answered some questions on the relations between Beijing-Taipei. He reiterated that "this is a domestic law that cannot apply to relations between Beijing and Taipei. The island of Taiwan is separate from China and wants to maintain the status quo".
"It must be made clear," Mr Tou went on to say, "that the majority of the population70 per cent I would sayaccepts the situation as it is."
"There is one group that wants independence and another that seeks annexation, but they are few people," he added.
For the diplomat, Beijing "made a mistake in adopting this law at a time when relations were warming up. We celebrated the lunar year with direct flights and charter cargo flights were being planned. Now business people, investors, and ordinary people want to stop to wait and see". The law touches a raw nerve with many Taiwanese, who need a more relaxed atmosphere to do business with the People's Republic of China.
"We need encouragement," the Ambassador stressed. "Instead, this law causes disquiet and fear. People on both side of the strait want to cooperate, but rushing things does not help".
The law, which authorises the use of 'non peaceful' means, does not say whether there are any risks. For Mr Tou "one cannot say that there are no alternatives. [And] saying 'non peaceful means' suggests that 'everything is possible'."
He adds that "only Japan and the United States are fully aware of the nature of the situation, because they know what is happening in the Pacific Ocean. When the US says that the law is 'not helpful' they succinctly state how Taiwan sees the situation".
Talking about Hu Jintao's appointment as chairman of the Central Military Commission, the Ambassador said little good is going come from it. "Jiang Zemin's succession is solely an internal party matterChina's military policies are not changing. All it means is that power is now going from the third to the fourth generation of leaders".
Mr Tou also refrained from making any comment about the law's negative implications for China's own ethnic minorities.
"I have not read the law article by article and so cannot express an opinion. What is certain is that the law, as a domestic law, concerns more the minorities living in the People's Republic than Taiwan".
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