Taiwan president vows to stop making Taiwan Strait killing field

Nov 8, 2009, 8:56 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou Sunday vowed to stabilize relations with China and avoid making the Taiwan Strait that divides the island and the mainland a killing field anymore.

'In addition to developing stable relations with the mainland, the government should strive to turn the once killing field of the Taiwan Strait into a peaceful and prosperous region,' Ma said.

Ma was referring to the artillery shelling flying across the Taiwan Strait as well as air and ship battles between the island and the mainland in the 1960s. Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949, and the two former rivals still engaged in war until after 1958.

Ma said while peace is the catalyst of national development, war would only bring destruction. It is therefore highly necessary for Taiwan to seek to maintain peace with China, he said, referring to his policy to engage Beijing after he became president in May last year.

Ma was addressing the opening of the formation of a presidential- level committee charged with preparing for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, the island's official title, in 2011.

The planned celebration could lead to further reconciliation between Taiwan and China, as Beijing is also preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1911 revolution, which saw the overthrowing of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and establishment of the Chinese republic.

The revolution was led by Dr Sun Yat-sen of the Nationalist Party, who was respected by both Beijing and Taipei as the founder of the Chinese republic. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan to set up an interim government after they were defeated by the Chinese Communists at the end of the civil war in 1949.

Beijing, which still considers Taiwan an integral part of China, has vowed to bring the island back to the mainland fold, if necessary by force.

Taiwanese media said Beijing has hoped to use the 100th anniversary to bridge the meeting between Ma and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, possibly in Hong Kong, in 2011.