Taiwan urges China to scrap anti-secession law
By Lee Chyen Yee
TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan urged China on Saturday to scrap a Chinese law authorising the use of force on the island, saying it is irrelevant when ties between the two political rivals have improved over the past year.
Taiwan＇s President Ma Ying-jeou (L) is seen waving a national flag with an athlete during a ceremony for Taiwanese Paralympic athletes in Taipei in this September 1, 2008 file photo. (REUTERS/Nicky Loh/Files)
In 2005, China enacted an "anti-secession law" that allows it to use force on Taiwan in extreme cases. It was seen as a warning to Taiwan＇s then-President Chen Shui-bian who often angered the mainland with his independence-leaning rhetoric.
"The Mainland Affairs Council hopes Chinese communist authorities will abolish the inappropriate anti-secession law and dismantle missiles aimed at Taiwan to resume peace across the Taiwan Strait and create a win-win situation," the council, Taiwan＇s China policy-making body, said in a statement.
Corinna Wei, a spokeswoman at the council, said the government issued the statement because it was the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the anti-secession law.
Taiwanese officials and experts say the mainland has 1,500 short-range missiles aimed at the self-ruled democratic island.
Relations between Taiwan and China have improved after the island＇s President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May last year, with top negotiators on both sides holding meetings and signing a series of deals to boost business ties.
WORLD HEALTH BODY
In more signs of warming ties, Taiwan＇s presidential office said on Saturday the island planned to hold talks with China on its participation in the World Health Assembly, which will hold a meeting on May 18.
"We plan to negotiate with China regarding the issue next month at a third-party destination, but I don＇t have more details as of now," said Tony Wang, a spokesman at the presidential office.
Wang declined to comment on a report in the United Daily News that quoted unidentified government sources as saying China had agreed in principle to allow Taiwan to take part in the World Health Assembly as an observer.
Earlier this month, China Premier Wen Jiabao made a fresh overture to Taiwan, saying Beijing was ready to create the conditions needed to reach a peace agreement.
China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan, its one-China policy, since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 when defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island. It has vowed to bring the island under mainland rule, by force if necessary.
Ma has advocated a peace deal since his election.
Tensions have brought China and Taiwan intermittently to the brink of war over the last six decades in what is considered potentially one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Asia.
But building on better ties since Ma took office, the two sides have launched direct daily passenger flights, new shipping routes and postal links.
Taiwan officials say political issues must be shelved at least until 2010 because of anti-China sentiment among the democratic island＇s population. China＇s top negotiator faced violent protests during his first visit to Taiwan last year.
Taiwan has become increasingly reliant on China amid the global economic slump, which has also sapped trade and investment. China is the island＇s largest trading partner and their two-way trade is worth more than $130 billion a year.
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