Taiwan offers olive branch to China, says independence off agenda

AIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian struck a conciliatory tone with China as he was sworn in for a second term by vowing not to push for independence, but his olive branch was instantly dismissed by Beijing.

Unveiling proposals for constitutional reforms he plans to introduce in 2008, Chen ruled out any change to the status of Taiwan, which China regards as part of its territory to be re-unified by force if necessary.

"I am fully aware that consensus has yet to be reached on issues related to national sovereignty, territory and the subject of reunification and independence," the 53-year-old said.

"Such issues will not be included in the scope of constitutional reforms," he told a crowd of 200,000 people who had gathered in heavy rain on the capital's presidential square for the inauguration ceremony.

Chen further conceded that "any form of future relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) should not be ruled out," including reunification.

The Taiwan leader also renewed his vows at the inauguration four years ago that he would not seek independence during his tenure.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=2069&e=5&u=/afp/20040521/wl_asia_afp/taiwan_politics

Don't forget to rate these stories and pics 10 on yahoo!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's "constructive and responsible" message on his inauguration should set the pace for dialogue between Taipei and Beijing to peacefully resolve their differences.

Chen moved to ease months of cross-Strait tension as he was sworn in for a second term, vowing not to push for independence and holding out the prospect of reunification with the mainland.

But his olive branch was instantly dismissed by Beijing, branding his policies the "greatest threat to peace and stability" in the region.

The United States welcomes Chen's remarks as "responsible and constructive," the White House said in a statement.

"By making clear Taiwan's commitment not to take steps that would unilaterally change the status quo, Chen underscored his administration's openness to seek accord with Beijing,"

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040521/wl_asia_afp/us_taiwan_china

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, who was sworn in for a second term, is a loved and loathed political survivor who first came to power in 2000, ending the long rule of the nationalist Kuomintang.

The 53-year-old former commercial lawyer was sworn in despite an ongoing recount to establish whether he was really the winner of March's presidential ballot, still overshadowed by opposition claims of foul play.

Rising from humble roots, through a spell in prison to the presidential office, Chen has been a thorn in the side of Beijing, pushing the boundaries of the island's long-tortured relationship with mainland China.

Styling himself as a true "son of Taiwan" Chen rose to power by playing up his birthplace in southern Tainan and his differences with the predominantly mainland-born leadership of the Kuomintang who held power in Taiwan for 51 years until Chen's victory.

Born to poor farming parents in late 1950, Chen was not given a birth certificate until the following year because of doubts over whether he would survive.

After studying law, he came to the public eye representing dissident leaders charged with sedition in 1979. One of those jailed was Annette Lu, his running mate in the March election.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=2069&e=9&u=/afp/20040520/wl_asia_afp/taiwan_politics_chen

I agree! Loathed by immoral, lying, dirty feces Communists like Jackie 'Whore' Chan, Mikie "Whore' Chinoy, Neil 'Whore' Bush, Jiang 'Whore' Zemin, Satan 'Whore' Lucifer...

The Robert F. Kennedy of Asia, President Chen Shui Bian (Abian)
http://www.president.gov.tw (Taiwanese)
http://www.president.gov.tw/index_e.html (English)
http://www.scanews.com/collester/article3/article3.html



The book that built the Lien family.
Just when the family assets of Lien Chen-tung and his son Lien Chan became a hot election campaign issue, a dissertation written by academic Lin Yuan-huei.

The 30,000-character paper tells the reader that, during the era of Japanese occupation, both Lien Heng and Lien Chen-tung worked for a pro-Japanese newspaper. It also tells how Lien Heng eulogized the colonizers in poems.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/02/06/2003097679



"Since last year, the pan-blue camp has carried out numerous campaign activities in China, all in violation of Chinese law. However, not only did the Chinese government fail to put a stop to these activities, instead it allowed and even supported their activities," said DPP campaign headquarters spokesman Wu Nai-jen (___).
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/02/10/2003098164



More than 60 percent of Taiwan's people believe China's authorities are hostile to the country's government while over 40 percent consider the hostility targeted at Taiwan's population, the Mainland Affairs Council said yesterday after reviewing 80 polls conducted on cross-strait relations last year.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/02/10/1076377991.htm



"It is an embezzlement case with top KMT officials involved. Whoever can control the project has to be someone with a minister status or higher. We should find out who made the decisions back then," Chang said.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/02/13/2003098519


Lee said that the people of Taiwan need to shrug off the mentality of being a "long-term laborer" after being ruled by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) for half a century, and take up the responsibility of being the master of their own country.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/02/09/2003098044




Taiwan's Chen Defends Move on Referendum
(Los Angeles Times - free register)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chen8feb08,1,5010944.story?coll=la-headlines-world





Liu Yan Chun grew up in Taiwan firmly believing that her family would someday go back to mainland China. It took most of her life to realize that there would be no triumphant return, as envisioned by the Nationalists when they retreated (Edit: this word should be INVADED Formosa which they renamed to Taiwan.) to Taiwan after defeat by the Chinese Communists in 1949. It took her longer still to realize that she had no desire to return.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/315530.asp



007 James Bond - Sean Connery says President Chen is his hero!
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/11/06/2003074804



First lady's European tour seen as diplomatic success
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2003/07/24/1059010376.htm



Assassination Attempt
Chen's wife, you know, was at a time an even more strident crusader than he was for the rights of the Taiwanese and the DPP. In 1985 she was rammed over three times by a truck and was crippled, and the driver was never found despite the fact that there were witnesses. Most Taiwanese believe _ that it was a botched KMT assassination attempt. And Chen has to go home every night and see her sitting in a wheelchair because of it. It's not an easy thing to shake.
http://www.time.com/time/asia/marketqa/2000/03/20 /



Accident or assassination attempt?

One account claims the driver, described in press reports at the time as a "simple peasant with a steady job and a fixed residence, Chang Jung-tsai" was driving an "illegally assembled truck" down the narrow street where Mrs. Chen was standing.

Witnesses said Chang purposefully hit Mrs. Chen. They insisted that the driver reportedly exclaimed "Oh, she's not dead yet" before backing up and running over her again to ensure maximum injury if not death.
http://www.chinaonline.com/refer/biographies/secure/chenshuibian.asp



From poverty to power: Chen Shui-bian's rise to the presidency
http://www.chinaonline.com/refer/biographies/secure/chenshuibian.asp



(Ex President) Lee says pro-unification forces to blame for SARS outbreak
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2003/05/19/1053309473.htm



Ex-KMT mayor gets 7-year sentence
(He should be forced to pay back the money he stole OR buy every person in Taiwan a kayak!)
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/21/1074621047.htm



Young voters supportive of Chen, poll says
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/21/1074620716.htm



Chen gains 55% approval rating, survey shows
(The come back kid!)
(Someone send me an Abian doll!)
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/21/1074620504.htm


Taiwan's Chen Defends Move on Referendum
Calling Taiwan a free and sovereign country, President Chen Shui-bian defended his decision to call a referendum on relations with mainland China and rejected international concerns that the move was a provocation that endangered the uneasy peace in the Taiwan Strait.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chen8feb08,1,5010944.story?coll=la-headlines-world

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/02/09/1076292171.htm





DPP decries Soong's proposal
(Soong and Lien are mainland pigs.)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/06/15/2003055308



The TSU regards Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (??) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (???), both born in China, as "aliens."

(Wow, I didn't know they were born in China. This brings up very very very serious legal issues! Lien and Soong should NOT be issued Taiwan Passports because they were born in China. They should be issued Communist China Passports! If they are not eligible for Taiwan Passports then they are NOT Taiwan Citizens. If they are NOT Taiwan Citizens how can they hold political office in Taiwan? How, who issued them Taiwan passports and Taiwan IDs? I read many stories were a foreigner has a baby in Taiwan but the previous Gou Ming Dong government kicked them out of Taiwan. Even Taiwanese who married a foreigner, the foreigner could NOT stay in Taiwan as a citizen. So how can the Taiwan law be so strict on citizenship but allow Lien and Soong to maintain Taiwan Citizenship?)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/01/29/2003096618



Ma's democratic credentials queried.
Ma, Guo Ming Dong's (KMT) Pig Puppet Mayor
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/01/29/2003096609



DPP says KMT should apologize for buying votes
(Apologize? Put the scum in jail!)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/11/23/2003076933




KMT (Pig) rebel blasts party's voting order
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/06/02/2003053622



Recent poll shows satisfication with government, Chen
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2003/05/17/1053136494.htm



Former hospital chief under fire (SARS spreader)
Wu was the superintendent of Taipei Municipal Jen Ai when President Chen Shui-bian was Taipei mayor, but he was fired over allegations of corruption in an equipment purchase scandal.

When Ma Ying-jeou (KMT Pig) was elected mayor, he invited Wu back and made him the superintendent of Hoping.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/13/205762



The ‘New Taiwan Person’
Centuries ago, the island had an aboriginal culture of Malay and Polynesian descent. In the 17th century, the Dutch and Portuguese had colonies here, and the imported Chinese laborers — all men — intermarried with locals, forming the basis of the majority of today’s population. According this version of history, it was only in 1887 that China declared Taiwan a part of its territory in an effort to stem Japanese expansionism, say independence activists. But when that failed, China ceded Taiwan to Japan in perpetuity.
The Japanese held Taiwan for 50 years, until their defeat in World War II. In the years immediately after, Allied Forces backed Chiang Kai-shek’s temporary occupation of Taiwan. But according to pro-independence legal experts, the Nationalists never had a legal basis to stay.
“In 1949, Taiwan did not “split off from China”, but was occupied by the losing side in the Chinese Civil War,” according to a 1999 white paper endorsed by 18 overseas Taiwanese associations.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/316717.asp?cp1=1



Premier's performance satisfies public, poll says
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/08/01/2003061799



Chirac sold out to PRC for commerce, says Lu Taiwan VP
Vice President Annette Lu (???) declared that French President Jacques Chirac had "sold out the national character and spirit of France" by opposing Taiwan's planned peace referendum Monday during a visit to Paris by People's Republic of China State Chairman Hu Jintao (???).
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/29/1075343350.htm



Billions Embezzled In China (Like Communist Chinese like KMT. What’s the difference between a Communist Chinese and a Guo Ming Dong Chinese? Answer:Nothing)
Audits aimed at ferreting out corruption in China uncovered $8 billion in misused or embezzled funds and widespread irregularities that produced "serious losses" of state assets, the government said Friday.

Auditors investigated 130,000 state businesses and offices last year as part of the communist leadership's campaign against the pervasive graft that has soured public faith in the government.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/30/world/main596944.shtml



Protest staged over KMT assets
Forging ahead with a campaign to exert pressure on the Kuomintang to return swathes of its financial and property holdings to the state, local activists yesterday staged a protest in front of the former ruling party's headquarters demanding it hand over allegedly 'ill-gotten' assets.

Members of the Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan brandishing leaflets entitled 'Returning KMT Party Assets' yesterday morning converged on the Chinese Nationalist Party headquarters, downtown Taipei and called on KMT Chairman Lien Chan (??) along with other party staff to vacate the building.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/01/29/1075343998.htm



Taiwan's democracy has need of America
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/01/29/2003096653



Jackie 'Whore' Chan is a Communist Puppet!
Senior DPP figure gets in a tangle over Jackie Chan
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/04/23/2003137723




Jackie Chan Rips Taiwan's Election

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan (news) said Sunday that Taiwan's recent presidential election was "the biggest joke in the world."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040329/ap_en_mo/people_j ...

I'm putting the WORLD on notice. This is how Fascism, Communism, Brutal Regimes, Nazis, Hitlers rise. The use of immoral instruments masquerading as moral/just people. Chan, speaking from Communist China and bashing Democracy! This is as laughable as Trent Lott saying aWol got more votes. Jackie 'Whore' didn't mention that there are no elections in China but it's obviously the most corrupt and murderous regime on the planet. Where government officials falsely convict citizens, execute them and sell their body parts for cash.

Honk Kong has no ability to vote for its leader either. And the Communists are trying daily to take away ALL rights of Hong Kong citizens.

I was in Hong Kong when the Chinses astronaut went on tour in Hong Kong. Who was there as the Communist mouth piece? Jackie 'Whore'. Not only did I read in the Hong Kong newspapers, I spoke to many Hong Kong citizens questioning why Jackie 'Whore' was playing the puppet for the Communists. So many people felt this way, Jackie 'Whore' went on a TV 'attack dog tour' (like Condi Lice is doing now), to try to salvage his reputation. He just kept saying, 'We are all Chinese that's why I do it.'

Everyone I spoke to, and also saw personally HK TV interviews of people standing in line, (The space capsule was put on display at the Space Center next to Kowloon Star Ferry), the Hong Kong people said, 'I don't care about seeing Yang Liwei, astronaunt, I only want to see the space capsule.'

Most all HK people were really pissed at Jackie 'Whore' for his actions. Many said he's a traitor.


----------------------

You've got to look at this honestly people! Everyone stop and look what's go-in down! There isn't an official/knowledgable person in the world who'd say Taiwan's election procedures aren't the fairest in the world.

The people protesting are all the Fascists Mainland Chinese who invaded Taiwan in 1949. They are about the most corrupt group on Earth, have been stealing money from Taiwan since 1949 but now no longer have an easy method to steal.

The KMT Party is the richest political party in the world. How did they get this money?

Assassination attempt. Is Jackie 'Whore' willing to take a bullet in the stomach while riding in a Jeep? The investigation is going on but Jackie 'Whore' knows what happened?

You can read just about anywhere the near certainty of ALL Hong Kong media stars being part of the Hong Kong Mafia. Which I would assume has now been taken over by the Communist Chinese Government.

---------

ps. I'll never watch a Jackie 'Whore' movie again!

By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Bashing rival China might be a good way to get elected in Taiwan, but President Chen Shui-bian sent a strong message to Beijing on Thursday that he's ready for friendlier relations during his second term.

Chen loaded up his inauguration speech with conciliatory language aimed at soothing Beijing and assuring the United States that he wasn't a reckless leader seeking to spark a war with his communist neighbor.

"The Beijing authorities must understand the deep conviction held by the people of Taiwan to strive for democracy, to love peace," said the 53-year-old president, a former Taipei mayor and lawyer.

But China's state-run media slammed Chen with criticism on Friday, questioning the sincerity of his inaugural speech and branding him a "slippery politician" intent on independence.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=2069&e=1&u=/ap/20040521/ap_on_re_as/taiwan_inauguration

The closest thing on Earth to the dirty filthy Communist Chinese feces bastards are the American Republican Party.

By Debby Wu
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, May 21, 2004,Page 3

While some analysts and pan-green camp politicians praised President Chen Shui-bian's (???) inaugural speech as a conciliatory and practical approach to reality, pro-independence hardliners, such as the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), scorned his blueprint for Taiwan's future.

Chen's speech yesterday touched on several issues, including ethnic harmony and a sustainable future for Taiwan, with cross-strait relations and constitutional re-engineering being the highlights.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus praised the speech, and interpreted it as demonstrating the president's kind intentions.

"The president did not use provocative language but instead emphasized China's mentality in embracing nationalism. The president is showing kind intentions toward China," DPP caucus director-general Tsai Huang-liang (???) said.

Tsai pointed out that the speech was an expansion of the DPP's 1999 "Resolution on Taiwan's Future," in which the traditionally pro-independence party altered its rules to require that changes to the nation's name and territory be agreed by the Taiwanese people, and that only the people can decide on unification or independence.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/21/2003156339

By Charles Snyder
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Friday, May 21, 2004,Page 4

Several hundred people paid tribute to President Chen Shui-bian (???) on the eve of his inauguration on Wednesday at a gala reception at Taiwan's "Twin Oaks" mansion in Washington, as pro-pan blue protesters demonstrated at the grounds entrance.

Ambassadors of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan joined with Taiwanese-Americans and a cross-section of supporters of Taiwan to eat, drink and chat in honor of Chen's re-election.

One of the stars of the event was Therese Shaheen, the former head of the American Institute in Taiwan, who was mobbed by reporters as she arrived in a signature bright red dress.

"I think it's a great night for a party," Shaheen said, as she avoided answering any diplomatically sensitive questions.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/21/2003156344

By Benjamin Kang Lim

TAIPEI (Reuters) - The United States welcomed Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration speech as "responsible and constructive" for avoiding an immediate showdown with China, but Beijing and the island's opposition have lingering doubts.

Chen ruled out any immediate steps toward independence as he began a second four-year term on Thursday, calling for better ties with China in an inaugural speech aimed at placating the island's giant communist neighbor and key ally the United States.

"Chen Shui-bian's address creates an opportunity for Taipei and Beijing to restore dialogue across the Strait," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

McClellan praised Chen for "making clear his administration's commitment not to take steps that would unilaterally change the status quo, underscoring its openness to seeking accord with Beijing, and reaffirming previous commitments on cross-Strait relations."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040521/wl_nm/taiwan_president_dc

TAIPEI (AFP) - Taiwan's new China policy-maker pledged to adopt peaceful means to improve cross-strait relations and a resumption of bilateral dialogue, after Taiwan said it would not pursue independence.

Joseph Wu, newly appointed minister of Mainland Affairs Council, urged Beijing to respond positively to President Chen Shui-bian's remarks Thursday that Taiwan would not seek independence or rule out re-unification with China, and asked Beijing to abandon its military threat against the island.

"Only through a peace and stable framework can we protect the well-being of people of both sides ... we will work to resume cross-strait talks to seek conciliation and temper political confrontation," Wu told reporters.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1512&ncid=2069&e=3&u=/afp/20040521/wl_afp/taiwan_china

By Michael A. Lev Tribune foreign correspondent

Taiwan's president, Chen Shui-bian, on Thursday gave a conciliatory inauguration address designed to defuse tensions with China, but its tone was rejected in Beijing even before Chen spoke.

Chen, beginning his second term in office, has infuriated China by promoting the idea of an independent Taiwanese identity, but in his speech he made several promises and used code words to indicate he recognizes there is a line in the sand he should not cross.

Chen referred to Taiwan several times by its official name, the Republic of China, to tacitly acknowledge that he is not declaring independence, and he stated that his plan to revise Taiwan's Constitution would not address sensitive issues related to national sovereignty, territoriality, unification or independence.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2027&ncid=2069&e=2&u=/chitribts/20040521/ts_chicagotrib/reelectedtaiwanpresidentattemptstosoothebeijing

:bounce:

It gives a whole picture to the situation.

I'm sorry. I know these circumstances must be terribly disappointing for you and for many of the People of Taiwan.