HONG KONG -- The new year has begun with conciliatory messages from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, suggesting that both China and Taiwan want to avoid too much tension in their relationship, although neither side seems likely in the short term to yield any ground on the sensitive issue of "One China."
In a New Year address, Chinese President Jiang Zemin wished "Taiwan compatriots" happiness and good health. He emphasized China's policy of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" without threatening to use force if Taiwan should refuse to negotiate.
In his New Year's message, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian also avoided making provocative statements. Instead, he repeated the promise that his government would not declare Taiwan independence, change the country's name, change the constitution or hold a referendum on Taiwan's future.