Wednesday, March 29, 2006

CROSS-STRAIT PEACE CRITICAL TO EVERYONE: SCHOLARS

Taipei, March 25 (CNA) Peace across the Taiwan Strait is critical not only for Taiwan and China but also for the U.S. and the world, scholars said Saturday on the first day of a two-day Asia-Pacific Peace Watch conference.

"Everybody loses in a cross-strait conflict," said Lin Wen-cheng, a professor at Sun Yat-sen University, quoting U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.

"In terms of the Taiwan Strait, obviously, [if there's] a conflict in the Taiwan Strait, everybody loses. China loses, Taiwan loses, we lose, the area loses," Hadley said in mid-March while briefing the press on the U.S. National Security Strategy 2006 report.

Still, Taiwan has been regarded by most observers as the most dangerous flashpoint in East Asia and an issue that could possibly draw the U.S. into warfare, Lin said in the report entitled "Taiwan Strait: How to Avert Wars and Promote Peace."

To promote cross-strait peace under the current circumstances -- under which Taiwan and China cannot find a consensus -- scholars suggested that Taiwan look at cross-strait security in a broader sense and in a more unconventional way.

For example, Taiwan can work with China in "low politics issues" such as fighting crime and environmental protection, Lin explained.

In addition, scholars encouraged both sides to re-construct "confidence-building measures" which have stagnated for some time, and to reconsider the possibility of signing an interim agreement as suggested by U.S. scholars Kenneth Liberthal and David Lampton.

Taiwan's government should try to be more aggressive and improve its efficiency in handling cross-strait issues, said Chao Chien-min, a Chengchi University professor.

The two-day conference was organized by Taiwan Peace Foundation and Taiwan Foudation for Democracy and concludes on Sunday.