Advisers Urge Taiwanese Authority to Accept 'One-China' Principle

President Chen Shui-bian's advisers have urged the Taiwanese leader to free himself from his ideological constraints and recognize a "one-China" principle to help break a protracted stalemate with the mainland.

Instead of accepting Beijing's control, Chen can declare he will abide by a separate "one-China" principle guided by the constitution of the Republic of China, the official name of Taiwan, the 14 advisers said in a letter to the president released Saturday.

"Considering realities across the Taiwan Strait and the international environment, there is no need and also no way for us to evade the 'one-China' question," the advisers said.

"We were not seeking to resolve the political dispute but to find the common language both sides may accept," Hsu Wun-pin, a prestigious legal expert who drafted the letter, told reporters.

Chen has close to 100 advisers -- including business leaders, academics and activists -- and it's difficult to say how influential the writers of the letter are.

Chen, a former advocate of formal independence, has softened his anti-China stance in recent years. But he has refused to accept Beijing's "one-China" principle, fearing this would be tantamount to admitting Beijing's control over the island.

Kuo Yao-chi, spokeswoman at the Presidential Office, would not say if Chen would accept the advice. But she noted Chen has long sought to start dialogue with Beijing.

Chen may find it hard to completely ignore the appeal from his advisers, which reflected growing public sentiment that Taiwan must seek to end its political standoff with Beijing to help jump start the slumping economy.

Many Taiwanese are worried about the island's future as Chen's new minority government appears incapable of halting the flight of capital and investment to the mainland that has weakened the local economy.

Chen has called a national economic conference with business leaders and opposition politicians next month to plot a new economic course.

Opposition leaders say Chen should first start a dialogue with Beijing to discuss ending Taiwan's long-standing ban on air and shipping links with the mainland. The move could bolster Taiwan's competitive edge and help attract more local and foreign investments, they say.






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