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Ma vows new era of peace
23/03/2008 13:17 - (SA)
Taipei - Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou said on Sunday he wanted a "mutual non-denial" agreement with China and vowed to work to lay the groundwork for a century of peace and prosperity.
Speaking the morning after sweeping to a landslide victory, Ma promised to improve relations with China - which still claimed sovereignty over Taiwan - but said he had no plans to visit anytime soon.
In a wide-ranging news conference here, he also reiterated his support for autonomy for Tibet in the wake of China's military crackdown in the Himalayan region.
The Harvard-educated opposition Kuomintang candidate won 58% of the vote on Saturday, trouncing his ruling party challenger by almost 17 points and earning the congratulations of United States President George W Bush.
Ma said he backed a 1992 consensus between Beijing and Taipei, under which both accepted the formula of 'one China' but agreed to interpret it in their own way.
'We'll not deny their existence'
Ma acknowledged: "The sovereignty issue has been the most intractable issue across the Taiwan Strait. It's a question between conflicting claims."
He said the old policy of each side denying the other's right to exist was in the past, but mutual recognition was "out of the question" too.
Mutual non-denial was the middle road - "we will not deny their existence but we cannot recognise their sovereignty" over Taiwan.
China had threatened an invasion if Taiwan declared independence, leaving the US-allied island in a murky limbo.
Ma had vowed to work to improve trade, tourism and transport links and to work for a peace treaty to end decades of hostilities since Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.
Century of peace, prosperity
By returning to the 1992 consensus, he said, "we can move ahead to other urgent, less intractable issues."
"We want to make sure we are not negotiating Taiwan's future... Taiwan's identity has to be respected. We will negotiate with each other on an equal footing," he went on.
Trust him, he said, urging voters to re-elect him in four years' time, and "if you give me eight years I will lay the foundation for a century of peace and prosperity".
However Ma - who formally took office on May 20 - said he had "no plans" to visit China.
"We want to work on substantive issues. If we are able to do that we will consider whether a high-level visit is required."
The vote had been closely watched by Beijing and Washington for signs of a new approach after eight years of recurring tensions under outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.
Ma had made improving ties with Beijing a cornerstone of his platform for the KMT, and that - coupled with concern over the stuttering economy - swept him to victory.
Bush, in a written message, said Ma's win was a fresh chance for bilateral relations with the mainland.
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