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EU urges peaceful end to Taiwan differences

BRUSSELS: The European Union on Sunday welcomed the continuing democratic process in Taiwan and urged Beijing and Taipei to settle their differences peacefully.

"We are glad to see that the democratic process continues in Taiwan with the second democratic presidential election," the EU's Portuguese presidency said in a statement.

"We congratulate Chen (Shui-bian). The people have had once again the chance to exercise their democratic right. It is in both Beijing's and Taipei's interest that the cross-strait dispute is settled peacefully and without any recourse to military threat," the statement said.

The victory on Saturday of Chen, a pro-independence candidate, raised concerns of a strong reaction from China, which threatened before the vote to take an extremely hard line against moves towards independence for Taiwan.

Since the poll, Chen has offered a constructive dialogue with Beijing while China has adopted a wait-and-see policy.

The EU said its position on Taiwan, set out in July last year, had not changed. At the time, the EU said it supported the principle of "one China" and urged both sides to avoid escalating bilateral tension.

It reiterated on Sunday its hope that the two sides would "resume a constructive dialogue as soon as possible".

A spokesman for the EU's executive Commission said it did not yet have a formal position on the election results.-Reuters