CHINA TAIWAN :: essays research papers

chinaware ambition leader James Soong urged the islands emancipation-leaning leading to take advantage of his "bridge-building" trip to mainland China to seek cross-strait repose. "People from some(prenominal) sides of the strait are longing for peace ... Mainland leaders have to a fault showed sincerity in improving cross-strait relations," Soong told reporters at the production lineport upon return from his nine-day take down to China.He added Friday that China had announced a number of concrete steps to boost bilateral ties, including a promise to push for direct air links in 2006."Peace is in our own hands," said Soong, moderate of the People First Party. Pushing for independence for Taiwan, he warned, could destroy peace prospects.China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting eventual reunion since they split at the end of the civil war in 1949 and has regularly threatened to invade if the island moves towards formal independence.Soong as well as said Taiwans President subgenus subgenus Chen Shui-bian had "promised not to promote independence through constitutional amendments".He was referring to Saturdays elections, in which voters were to elect a 300-member National Assembly to decide on a package of constitutional reforms, including whether referenda could be used to amend the constitution.Beijing has unconnected referenda, which it sees as a step Taiwan could take toward declaring formal independence.Saturdays top is seen as a litmus test of support for the islands independence-minded leaders and the opposition, who choose closer ties with China, following recent visits there by two opposition leaders.Soongs trip followed the historic visit to China by Lien Chan, prexy of the main opposition Kuomintang party.Both Lien and Soong said their trips were meant to bridge differences surrounded by the two rival governments and pave the way for peace talks.Beijing also agreed to simplify visa application procedures for Chinese and to offer incentives to Taiwanese studying on the mainland, according to a joint statement released subsequently Soongs talks with Chinas Hu Jintao.Hu and Soong also pledged to push for cross-strait peace talks downstairs a "two sides, one China" principle and oppose independence for Taiwan.President Chen, who stresses Taiwans independence and sovereignty, immediately rejected the peace overture."Should we accept the one-China principle, Taiwan would be Hong Kong-ized and become part of the Peoples Republic of China, a scenario which is by no means acceptable to the 23 million people in Taiwan," Chen said Thursday.