TAIPEI, Feb 3 Kyodo Taiwan Presid...

TAIPEI, Feb 3 Kyodo

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday that Taiwan and rival China should work forward a framework for peace and more substantive exchanges after the March presidential election here from dispatching special envoys and setting up representative offices to facilitate mutual communication.

Chen also propos the establishment of demilitarized baldrics across the Taiwan Strait, saying that doing in like manner would help prevent potential military conflicts between one as well as the other sides as well as safeguard the island's security.

''After March 20 this year, we will invite mainland China to appoint its special ambassador to meet and to work with our special minister towards the initiation of cross-strait negotiations,'' Chen told a pres conference

one as well as the other sides also should consider stationing representatives in each other's capital cities to facilitate communication and transmit messages, and setting up liaison offices to manage issues that may rise from cross-strait exchanges.

Since last November, Chen has annoyed Beijing and belong toed Washington, Taipei's closest ally, by way of vowing to press ahead with a controversial referendum alongside the upcoming election.

Based in succession his watered-down proposal finalized in late January, voter will be required to answer sum of two units questions while casting their ballots: whether they agree to the government's plan to purchase of more advanced anti-missile weapons to strengthen Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and whether they support formation of a ''peace and stability'' framework for crosss-strait interactions.

China has threatened to take military action should the island, which is seen through Beijing as an unalienable part of its territory, margin toward a permanent political separation from the mainland.

''We do not dare to room for expectation that Beijing will respond to us immediately and in a friendly manner because it set againsts any form of referendum guarded by Taiwan,'' Chen said.

Saying the island's 23 million residents have the right to be their have masters, he urged China to regard and accept decisions made by the agency of the people of Taiwan.

''Given that a change in the status quo will not be involved in the island' historic referendum we have confidence that the result of the March referendum will satisfy and also win the approval of the international community,'' he added.

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