China plays hardball with Chen
By CNN Senior China Analyst Willy Wo-Lap Lam
 |
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian faces a strenuous effort by Beijing to undermine his re-election chances.
Story Tools
|
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Beijing is mounting a multi-pronged offensive to minimize the re-election chances of pro-independent Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.
On the diplomatic level, the Chinese Communist Party leadership is set to send a series of senior diplomats and cadres to Washington to persuade the administration of President George W. Bush to give unqualified opposition to Chen holding two referendums the same day as the presidential polls next month.
While the referendums, one of which asks Taiwan residents whether they want to boost missile-defense measures against the mainland, are deemed mild, Beijing thinks they are a big step toward separatism.
Chinese sources close to Beijing's Taiwan policymaking apparatus said Beijing also wants Bush and his aides to subtly but firmly indicate their non-support for Chen's re-election bid.
Chen's image among Taiwanese -- particularly the around 30 percent or so of "undecided" voters -- may drop if he is seen as a politician who cannot do business with Washington.
More senior officials from the Chinese Foreign Ministry are set to follow in the footsteps of Chen Yunlin, the Director of China's cabinet-level Taiwan Affairs Office, who called on important U.S. officials in Washington last week.
Fearing that direct threats to Taiwan may be counter-productive, the CCP has the past year refrained from tough gestures such as holding provocative war games along the Taiwan coast.
However, Beijing is playing hardball with Chen and his colleague in the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.
Diplomatic analysts in Beijing and Taipei said more "Taiwan spies" would likely be arrested in the wake of the detention of a score or so of mainland-based Taiwan residents accused of collecting Chinese state and military secrets.
Last weekend, Beijing announced it had smashed a spy ring whose leader was reported to be a former Taiwan military intelligence expert, Li Yun-pun.
Beijing as well as opposition politicians in Taiwan have accused President Chen of "selling out" the mainland-based spies by making indiscreet statements that resulted in blowing their cover.
Moreover, Beijing is facilitating those among the estimated half a million mainland-based Taiwan businessmen and staff who want to return to the island to cast their ballots in the March 20 presidential polls.
Given that most Taiwan business executives seem to favor the opposition Kuomintang -- which advocates better relations with Beijing -- the move may also deal a blow to President Chen's re-election prospects.
