Taiwan Asks China to Ban Use of WMD Options

[葉兆峰]

Taiwan Asks China to Ban Use of WMD


By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Taiwan's leader, making a new appeal to China to hold talks, urged the communist giant on Wednesday to ban the development and use of weapons of mass destruction.






President Chen Shui-bian's remarks were also probably directed at the United States — Taiwan's most likely defender if China ever acts on long-standing threats to attack. Chen needs to convince the United States that he's a flexible negotiator who is trying hard to thaw out relations with China.


In a brief televised address, Chen invited Chinese leaders to a summit and asked Beijing to work with Taiwan to create a code of conduct to avoid military incidents between the rivals.


"The leaders and governments of both sides should grasp this opportunity and use wisdom to open up a good window of opportunity to create a foundation of peace and happiness for the people," he said.


Chen — re-elected last March running on a China-bashing platform — is battling a perception in some influential circles in Washington that he's a provocateur who's recklessly pushing the envelope with China. There's been speculation that President Bush (news - web sites) might be less friendly to Taiwan during his second term.


The rivalry dates to 1949 when Mao Zedong's communist army won control of the Chinese mainland and anti-communist forces took refuge on Taiwan, 100 miles off China's southern coast.


"We think that the use of nuclear arms, biological weapons and weapons of mass destruction should be banned in the Taiwan Strait," Chen said. "My country would like to respectfully urge China to publicly announce that it is abandoning the development and use of weapons of mass destruction,"


Chinese leaders distrust Chen and are unlikely to welcome his gesture. Since he took office in 2000, the president has made numerous overtures, but most got a chilly reception in Beijing.


But Chen's offer might pressure Chinese President Hu Jintao to be more conciliatory toward Taiwan at next week's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (news - web sites) forum in Chile. The Nov. 20-21 gathering will be Hu's first visit to Latin America.


China considers Taiwan an inseparable part of one China. Beijing has refused to talk to Chen until he backs that "one-China principle." Taiwan insists it is an independent country.


Chen's overture Wednesday may have been directed more at Taiwanese voters, who will cast ballots in the Dec. 11 legislative elections. The president is hoping his Democratic Progressive Party will win a majority for the first time. Positioning his party as a peacemaker with China could help it attract more moderate voters.

[Archangel-X]

I'm an active supporter of world peace and I believe that the development and use of WMD should be banned, in all countries.

[Chinese DesertFo...]

I'm an active supporter of world peace and I believe that the development and use of WMD should be banned, in all countries.

If the U.S. takes the first step and disarms first, then the rest of the countries that have WMD should follow accordingly.

I'm not a big fan of WMDS, btw.

[葉兆峰]

Yeah me, too. If it was back in the good old days where is a sword and a rifle.

[Mantis]

ROFLMAO, they're scared that China is going to nuke them.

[浪淘音]

WMDs should be kept around for extreme worst case scenarios.

other than that, nothing like man against man on the battlefield

[Archangel-X]

If there was going to be any battle, it had better be a battle between lawyers in the International Courts.