Lucy Hornby reports for Reuters:
Chinese President Hu Jintao for the first time appealed directly to Taiwan’s opposition party to give up its stance for independence and offered an olive branch to Taiwanese seeking representation in international bodies.
Hu called on Wednesday for a pragmatic approach to the political relationship to ease concerns over tension across the Taiwan strait.
China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, its “one China” policy, since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has vowed to bring the island under mainland rule, by force if necessary.
“As long as the ‘one China’ principle is recognized by both sides … we can discuss anything,” Hu said.
If Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gives up “splittist activities” and “changes its attitude,” it would elicit a “positive response,” Hu said.
