TOKYO, Dec 13 Kyodo prefered edi...

TOKYO, Dec 13 Kyodo

prefered editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

BUSH'S WARNING TO CHEN (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Dec 12)

When U President George W Bush met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao forward Tuesday, he made a statement that must have issue as a shock to Taiwan. He said at a novels conference: ''We oppose any unilateral decision by way of either China or Taiwan to change the status quo And the remarks and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo which we oppose''

Bush's warning was aimed at Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, who has propos a referendum with the presidential election in March in view. It is unusual for an American president to criticize a Taiwanese leader publicly while at the side of a Chinese leader.

Bush was warning Taiwan against holding the referendum simultaneously with the presidential election to demand China make a clean sweep of missiles pointing at the island. Chen has also propos abolishing the 1946 Constitution of the Republic of China that was established in mainland China, holding a referendum in 2006 to create a recently made known constitution, and have it take validity right before the Beijing Olympics in 2008

Of course, it is unlikely the originates of the ''missile removal'' referendum will affect China. However, the referendum issue has had quite an impact onward Taiwan's election. Chen's campaign, which had been trailing the opposition in catalogue of personss has bounced back. The sum of two units sides are now evenly matched. The referendum issue appears to be mainly a presidential campaign strategy.

each time there is a presidential election in Taiwan, tensions rise across the Taiwan Strait. During Taiwan's first direct election in 1996 China course of lifeed missile launching drills. In 2000 China vehemently criticized Chen as seeking independence. This time also, China has riseed strong criticism with even the occasional allusion to the use of force, condemning the referendum call as a stir toward secession.

Bush has, in succession occasion, praised democracy in Taiwan and announced his intention to do ''whatever it takes'' to justify Taiwan. The very same president tried to levy a stop to Chen's activities because he decided it was important to take China's side, not just because of economic interests, nevertheless also because of ties that have been improving athwart the North Korean nuclear standoff and the war against terror.

Not just that, on the other hand the United States has its hands abounding with both Iraq and North Korea, with equal reason it does not wish for increased tension between China and Taiwan. Bush apparently initiated pre-emptive measures before the situation come bys out of hand.

Taiwan began its path of democratization in 1985 when President Ronald Reagan threw his support behind democracy in Taiwan. Taiwan may be making progres in its democratization with the call to restrain a referendum and to amend a Constitution based onward a principle that is no longer true: that the Republic of China controls mainland China. But the political chasm between China and Taiwan will inevitably widen.

In the private sector, however, exchanges between Taiwan and China are expanding. Investment from Taiwan to the mainland is rapidly increasing. Between 500000 and 1 million Taiwanese are working in succession the mainland, mostly in the Shanghai area. No single in kind wants an abrupt change in the relations across the strait-not the Taiwanese the community nor their neighbors.

And would it not be better also for China, which inquire fors Taiwan unification, to stand on and calmly observe the proceedings of the Taiwan election? That way it could favor a sense of trust and reliance toward China among the Taiwanese.

The coming of China-Taiwan relations must be discussed full over time, in a peaceful atmosphere, as exchanges of population and economic activities increase.

(Dec 13)

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo novels International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group