VARIOUS: Japan and Taiwan hope for stability in the region while Vietnamese residents express mixed views after China's new leadership was unveiled.

Record ID: 480568

  • Title: VARIOUS: Japan and Taiwan hope for stability in the region while Vietnamese residents express mixed views after China's new leadership was unveiled.
  • Date: 15th November 2012
  • Summary: TAIPEI, TAIWAN (NOVEMBER 15, 2012) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS DEPUTY MINISTER OF MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL LIU TE-SHUN LISTENING TO QUESTION JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DEPUTY MINISTER OF MAINLAND AFFAIRS COUNCIL LIU TE-SHUN SAYING: "We believe that China's policy towards Taiwan has its continuity and consistency, it should not immediately change significantly because of new leadership. The cross-strait relationship has been constructed on the basis of stability and prosperity, and the people of two sides both hope to continue to move forward on these basis." NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING JOURNALIST FLIPPING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IN UNITED EVENING NEWS ABOUT CHINA'S 18TH CONGRESS NEWSPAPER HEADLINE READING: XI JINPING SUCCESSION
  • Embargoed: 30th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Taiwan, Province of China, Japan
  • City:
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEELSY3F5JVMHK30P7S8TLRV1Z
  • Story Text: Japan on Thursday (November 15) said its relationship with the nation was an important one, regardless of who led China.
    "Regardless of who is China's leader, our bilateral relationship is an important one and both Japan and China have a heavy responsibility to ensure stability and peace, both in the region and across the world," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, speaking at a news conference in the Japanese capital.
    Diplomatic relations between Japan and China hit rock bottom this year over a dispute over islands claimed by both nations, known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Diaoyu in China.
    China's ruling Communist Party unveiled an older, conservative leadership line-up on Thursday which many observers says appears unlikely to take drastic action to tackle pressing issues like social unrest, environmental degradation and corruption.
    New party chief Xi Jinping, premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang and vice-premier in charge of economic affairs Wang Qishan, all named as expected to the elite decision-making Politburo Standing Committee, are considered cautious reformers. The other four members have the reputation of being conservative.
    In the Vietnamese capital residents had mixed reactions to the new leadership.
    "From the time of Mao Zedong, Zhou En-lai to Deng Xiaoping, Hu Jintao, and now Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang stepped up to be leaders of China, it has always been the same. China will keep pursuing its hegemonism in the way of a super power, make no mistake about it. Only their attitude and their intention will appear to be smoother, smarter and more flexible, leading people into thinking that it is better," said Duong Danh Dy, a former diplomat to China based in Guangzhou.
    Seventy-year-old Nguyen The Son, said he was optimistic about China's plans to reform.
    "I am very glad after hearing the speech of the new leaders of China's communist party. There are plans for changes and reforms, including diplomatic policies with neighbouring countries. I hope after this Congress party, Vietnam and China will keep remaining good friends," he said.
    However, 70-year-old retiree Nguyen Trong Hoan expected little change.
    "I think China's policies toward Vietnam will not have any dramatic changes, including matters on the East Sea (South China Sea)," he said.
    China and four South-east Asian states, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have conflicting claims over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, an area believed to have rich deposits of oil and gas.
    In Taiwan, the Mainland Affairs Council on Thursday said it expected China to continue its current course with the cross-strait policy.
    "We believe that China's policy towards Taiwan has its continuity and consistency, it should not immediately change significantly because of new leadership. The cross-strait relationship has been constructed on the basis of stability and prosperity, and the people of two sides both hope to continue to move forward on these basis," said the Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, Liu Te-shun, at a regular news briefing.
    He said that Taiwan wished the two sides would continue to promote peace and stability, and mutual prosperity in the cross-strait relations.
    He also said that Taiwan had noticed a number of important declarations China raised to deepen reform and secure livelihood, and that he hoped the reform would positively impact on China's development to promote public interest.
    China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the Nationalists fled to the island in 1949 after losing control of the mainland in a civil war. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan back under its rule, by force if necessary.
    Since Taiwan's ruling Nationalist government took office in 2008, the two sides have signed a series of trade agreements, bringing the cross-strait relationship to its warmest in decades.
    Xi Jinping will take over President Hu Jintao 's state position in March at the annual meeting of parliament, when Li Keqiang will succeed Premier Wen Jiabao.
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