Wu says Chinese tourists will........
- From: cnw <cnw@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:47:47 +0800
Wu says Chinese tourists will discover democracy
YOU'RE MOST WELCOME: The MAC chair said that visiting Taiwan would enable
Chinese people to sample the freedoms that Taiwanese enjoy every day
By Jewel Huang
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Aug 25, 2006,Page 3
If Chinese tourists were allowed to visit Taiwan they would be able to learn
about democracy and experience the vibrancy of a nation that enjoys freedom of
speech and freedom of the press, Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu
(งdฐxภ่) said yesterday.
Wu made the remarks in a keynote speech at a symposium held jointly by the
council and Academia Sinica.
The symposium, titled "The Rise of China: Beijing's Strategies and Implications
for the Asia-Pacific," invited local and foreign academics to present their
papers on issues pertaining to cross-strait and regional affairs.
"The Chinese government has tight control over its mass media. Therefore, the
only way for Chinese people to learn about Taiwan is to visit the country," Wu
said, adding that the government hoped to facilitate tourism so that Chinese
people could discover how little Taiwan had in common with the picture painted
of the nation by the Chinese government's propaganda.
"Chinese visitors can talk freely to locals on the streets and read different
kinds of newspapers. I believe that they will enjoy Taiwan's special political
call-in shows," Wu said. "That would be the best way for Chinese people to
experience how vibrant Taiwan is thanks to freedom of speech and freedom of the
press."
Wu said that while China was on the "rise," its government spoke often of
"peaceful development" in order to downplay its military ambitions.
"China is becoming a world-class power," Wu said. "As the engine of the East,
China has to be transparent about its military and economic development. We also
need to be aware that China's economic growth might not necessarily be a
blessing for the world."
Wu said that there was a common misconception in the international community
that Taiwan sought to intentionally provoke China.
"But I have to say that [provocation] is not Taiwan's policy toward China. Our
policy is to explore the possibility of resuming negotiations with China and to
find a way to push for dialogue between the two sides," Wu said. "We continue to
express our goodwill toward China and invite China to talk to us. We want to
build a better relationship with China and we want to avoid conflict. Military
confrontation in the Strait is the most unlikely scenario."
For example, Wu said, the government announced on June 14 that it would allow
four charter flights between Beijing and Taipei for cargo and passengers.
Wu also talked about the Conference on Sustaining Taiwan's Economic Development
held by the Cabinet last month. Although the conference did not reach a concrete
consensus on the nation's economic policy to China, Wu said it had offered the
opportunity to discuss many issues. This would help the government to adjust its
policies in a practical manner with the result that Taiwan's economic
relationship with China would become more rational.
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