Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian declared on Friday he would not be rushed into talks with China, saying it was vital to preserve the island's sovereign status.
Whereas China's leaders have said they were striving for talks to start even if they had delays during the negotiations, "I want to revise that statement," Chen said in an interview. "I want to strive for delays while not fearing talks."
He said his go-slow policy would benefit the 23 million people on the island more than accepting as a precondition for talks China's vision of one country that includes both Taiwan and the mainland.
"This is not reconciliation, this is not dialogue, this is surrender," he said, speaking in the presidential palace in central Taipei.
He added he would not allow Taiwan to follow the Hong Kong model, whereby the former British colony became a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997. China has promised Taiwan more autonomy than Hong Kong if it accepted Beijing's authority.
China and Taiwan have disputed sovereignty over the island since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and Beijing has threatened war if Taipei pushed for formal independence.
Chen denied that his stance was inflammatory, however, saying he believed in "reconciliation without flinching." He said he wanted "to hold a firm stance without becoming confrontational."
Chen said he hoped talks on closer economic links, including direct passenger and cargo air links, and allowing Chinese tourists to visit the island, could continue and be successful despite the tough rhetoric around the sovereignty issue.
He said there was no need to declare independence because the facts already proved that Taiwan was a country.
"It's a reality. It's the status quo. If we do not ourselves acknowledge that we are a sovereign, independent country, if even we don't have confidence in Taiwan being a sovereign, independent country, how can we seek support from the world?" he said.
Taiwan lost its voice in the United Nations in 1971 when Beijing was given China's seat. Most countries have broken formal relations with the island in order to forge ties with the 1.3 billion people on China's mainland.
The rush to Beijing has increased as China's economy has become a powerhouse. Only 26 states, including Vatican City and Panama, now recognise Taipei.
Chen accused opposition leaders, too, of succumbing to "China fever" by visiting Beijing and speaking with Chinese leaders and said their actions were tantamount to surrender.
"They were forced to accept Beijing's preconditions. They were forced to accept the one-China principle," he said. "If we accept the preconditions then in this context it will be the same as accepting the pre-set results," he said.
The leaders of Taiwan's two main opposition parties both met Chinese leader Hu Jintao in Beijing earlier this year. China has insisted that Chen renounce Taiwan independence - something he has refused to do - if he wants to meet Hu as well.
Chen lambasted what he called "the pervasive misconception in the international community that everything China does is correct." The fact that China had threatened Taiwan and had over 700 missiles pointed at the island showed a lack of goodwill.
Chen, who must leave office in 2008, said part of his legacy would be to make the world see the situation between Beijing and Taipei in a different way.
"We hope to let the international community come to a better understanding of how Taiwan differs from China and that Taiwan is not a part of China," he said.
Using the island's official name, he continued: "The Republic of China on Taiwan and the People's Republic of China on the mainland are not the same. They are under divided rule and do not exercise jurisdiction on each other."
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