International
China cool but firm on Taiwan poll result
BEIJING, DEC. 5. China is on alert for any attempt to move Taiwan towards statehood after the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) victory in the island's weekend elections, a senior Chinese official said today.
But in the first official reaction to Saturday's poll, a spokesman for the Taiwan affairs office of the State Council said he did not expect the result to affect China-Taiwan relations as most Taiwanese still backed reunification with the mainland.
And the spokesman, Mr. Zhang Mingqing, showed no signs of flexibility over Beijing's demands that Taiwan President, Mr. Chen Shui-bian of the DPP accept the ``one China'' principle that Taiwan and the mainland are part of a single country.
``We are paying very close attention to the direction of the Taiwan authorities' cross-strait policy after the election,'' Mr. Zhang told a news conference. The DPP's crushing defeat of the Nationalists, who favour eventual reunification, surprised and alarmed Beijing, undermining its strategy to cold-shoulder Mr. Chen while cosying up to his opposition, analysts say.
But Beijing's restrained response reflects a belief that Mr. Chen is now under pressure to improve relations with China as Taiwan struggles through its worst economic recession in three decades.
``I don't think independence forces are getting stronger,'' Mr. Zhang said. `` The overall political situation has not changed after the election.'' ``Most Taiwan people want relations to be stable and developing and especially want warmer economic and trade relations.''
- Reuters
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