From Taipei Times:
Taiwan and China are two different countries and appeasement breeds aggression, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) told US politicians and academics in Washington during a video conference last night.
“Taiwan is an independent sovereign country and our sovereignty is independent from the rule of China,” he said.
“Taiwan is Taiwan. China is China. Taiwan and China are two independent nations on either side of the Taiwan Strait,” he said. [Full Text]
See also Taiwan’s Chen sees independence in his lifetime by Reuters and Chinese mainland official condemns Taiwan separatist activities by Xinhua.
