Jiang pleased with China's Taiwan policy

Jiang says he is satisfied with China's efforts to isolate Chen, seen here with the Dalai Lama.

By Willy Lam
CNN Senior China Analyst

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- China's central government says it is satisfied with its "united front policy" of enticing opposition politicians as well as businessmen in Taiwan to visit and invest in the mainland.

This came out of a series of high-level meetings among members of the Communist Party's leadership, to discuss its Taiwan policy after Washington's decision to sell a package of sophisticated weapons to the island.

A source close to the Chinese government's Taiwan policymakers in Beijing says President Jiang Zemin indicated in an internal meeting that he was satisfied with the way his government had managed to exploit the weakness of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.

Jiang pointed out the Kuomintang's (KMT) unexpected loss to the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at presidential polls in March 2000 had made it possible for a large number of KMT politicians to visit Beijing.

"The KMT's defeat [in 2000] has removed the baggage on the minds of many [KMT] politicians," Jiang said.

He added that if the KMT, which had run Taiwan since 1949, were still the ruling party, it would not have been possible for several former senior ministers to visit Beijing.

Former vice-premier Hsu Li-teh is in the Chinese capital to take part in an academic conference.

Jiang determined

Earlier this week, former foreign minister John Chang, who was leading a business delegation, had held talks with Vice Premier Qian Qichen. Former premier Vincent Siew was in Beijing last week.

It is understood Beijing is working on a visit to the mainland by KMT chairman and former vice president Lien Chan.

In their reports to Jiang, officials specializing in Taiwan affairs and foreign trade expressed confidence that more Taiwan businessmen, including those in hi-tech sectors, would be setting up footholds along the coast.

Jiang appears determined not to allow Chen to mend fences with mainland authorities.

During the meetings on Taiwan, Jiang and his aides also asked all Communist party and government units to boycott Chen, and others they consider pro-independence or 'splittist' voices within Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Jiang had pointed out Chen's chances for re-election in 2004 would be minimized if the DPP leader was seen as persona non grata by Beijing.

Meanwhile, Vice Premier Qian has urged that more work be done to boost worldwide publicity on Beijing's policies on Taiwan.

Official newspapers on Friday quoted Qian as saying in a conference on propaganda work on Taiwan that the early solution of the Taiwan problem was "a holy task that cannot be blocked by any force."

A focus of Beijing's overseas publicity campaign is understood to be trying to convince international opinion that the mainland's determination to unify Taiwan would not be affected by U.S. President George W. Bush's "pro-Taiwan" policies.