On the day before the bombing the Chinese were making large overtures to Taiwan and the appearance of the old pattern of a distraction occurring at the same time as some other major move looked like it was to happen.
China Details Taiwan Unification Offer
By Jeremy Page
Reuters, Sep. 10, 2001
China's top Taiwan policy official, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, on Monday detailed freedoms the island would enjoy if it reunified with the mainland under a formula applied in former European colonies Hong Kong and Macau.
But a Taiwan official again rejected the "one country, two systems" proposal on the grounds Beijing still regarded the wealthy democratic island as a renegade province, not a de facto sovereign state.
Under "one country, two systems", Taiwan would keep its own currency, military, customs status and government structure, and Beijing would neither levy taxes or appoint mainland officials on the island, Qian told a forum on China in the 21st Century.
China has long said it would allow Taiwan greater flexibility under "one country, two systems" than Hong Kong and Macau, which were guaranteed a high degree of autonomy after returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999.
But Beijing had not publicly announced details of its offer.
"Taiwan may continue to use the New Taiwan Dollar, retain its armed forces, maintain its status as a separate customs territory and keep its government structure," Qian told an audience which included former world leaders.
"The mainland will not levy taxes in Taiwan, not even one cent, nor will it take any money from Taiwan," he said. "The way of life of the Taiwanese people will remain unchanged and Taiwan's entrepreneurs will have their properties intact.
"Taiwan will make independent choices on personnel matters and the mainland will not send any official to take office in Taiwan."
TAIWAN REJECTS OFFER
Taiwan has repeatedly rejected unifying under "one country, two systems", arguing it should not be treated like former foreign colonies and that Beijing should first embrace democracy as Taipei has.
"The 'new' proposals are still unacceptable because China still sees the island as a province," an official at the Taiwan cabinet's mainland affairs council told Reuters.
In July, Beijing poured cold water on a proposal by Taiwan's main opposition Nationalist Party for a Taiwan-China confederation as an interim arrangement before the two sides work out an arrangement for unification.
Qian repeated that "one country, two systems" was the only acceptable model for reunification.
He said China supported the immediate reopening of direct trade, transport and postal links with Taiwan, suspended since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.
A Taiwan presidential advisory panel urged the government last month to hold talks with Beijing on opening the "three links" within the framework of the World Trade Organisation. China is expected to join the WTO by early 2002 at the latest, followed immediately by Taiwan.
ONE CHINA STRESSED
But Qian also stressed that Taipei must accept the "one China" principle, which he defined as: "There is but one China in the world; both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China."
China has threatened to attack Taiwan if it declares independence or delays reunification talks indefinitely but Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has refused to accept "one China" as a precondition for talks.
"As long as the Taiwan authorities agree to the one China principle for the settlement of the Taiwan question, we have the patience to wait," Qian said.
"We cannot afford to renounce the use of force because that would encourage Taiwan independence elements and would then make peaceful reunification impossible to achieve."
Qian's remarks followed a meeting on Friday between China's Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng and his Taiwan counterpart Yen Ching-chang ahead of a meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum finance ministers in the eastern city of Suzhou.
The talks were the highest level meeting between the two sides since the Taiwan panel recommended on August 26 that Taipei scrap its ban on direct links.
I have already heard reference to World War III.