China won't talk until independence dropped

China said today it won’t talk to Taiwan’s president until his party drops a clause in its constitution calling for formal independence for the island.

Wang Zaixi, a spokesman for the ruling Communist Party’s Taiwan Work Office, said the government of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian also must first endorse a 1992 declaration that the self-ruled island and the mainland are “one China”.

Wang was speaking at a news conference after Taiwan’s opposition leader, Lien Chan, left for home following a historic trip to China.

“Conditions for dialogue and consultations between us … are recognition of the 1992 consensus, and the Democratic Progressive Party must drop the independence clause from its constitution,” Wang said.

“So long as these conditions are met, we can resume dialogue and consultations with (President) Chen Shui-bian and the DPP.”