In an article obviously aimed at rallying support for the March 20 "general election," Taiwan "president" Chen Shui-bian presented his latest definition of the island's relationship with China's mainland.

"From the perspectives of state dignity and sovereignty equity, Taiwan is not a part of China," Chen said. "But the other way round, from the perspectives of history, blood relationship and culture, 'China' and 'Chinese culture' indeed are a part of Taiwan."

In the article, which was published on Saturday, Chen argued that his emphasis on Taiwan's status as an independent existence is not equivalent to "de-Sinification."

That appears to be a smart votes-wooing tactic guaranteed to work both lines. The statehood claim reassures independence advocates, his true comrades-in-arms, of his loyalty to their shared cause. The rhetoric on Taiwan's "Chineseness," featuring apparent back-pedalling on his madly provocative remarks on the topic, belies an attempt to at least not alienate those worried about his dangerous anti-mainland posturing.

Apparently Chen hopes the double-insurance formula will work and win him trust from both ends of the voting spectrum.

"President" Chen used to confuse his audience by capriciously going back on his own words on Taiwan's relations with the mainland. This time, however, he has succeeded in spotlighting the miserable contradictions in his own twin personae.

It would not have been any problem for "president" Chen to choose his political footing were it not for the coming ballots counting.

His signature designation of relations across the Taiwan Straits as "state-to-state" has proved the only unchanged political statement he has ever made. But his constituency does not want a leader who is fond of reckless tight-rope-walking. So "president" Chen had to compromise and portray Taiwan as a sovereign state independent of China while being Chinese in history, consanguinity, and culture.

The irreconcilable self-contradiction inside this weird mishmash cannot but make people wonder which Chen to believe.

Personality disorder aside, the rationale behind "president" Chen's statement is obviously unpersuasive.

Chen's claim that Taiwan is not part of China is based on concerns about "state dignity" and "sovereignty equity." If, and only if, Taiwan were a sovereign state, it would surely qualify for everything an independent country deserves.

But that is mere hypothesis. Taiwan is not and never has been a sovereign country. This is a historical and current fact recognized and affirmed by international law, which would not change just because of Chen's wishful thinking.

Taiwan's dignity certainly merits respect, but not as a "state." Equity is essential for a constructive relationship. But between Taiwan and the mainland, it is not the kind of equality and reciprocity that exists between two countries.

It is unusual for "president" Chen to admit the island's kinship with the mainland. Until very recently, he has been an aggressive henchman of an ambitious name-changing movement targeted at eliminating the island's association with the mainland.

In order not to draw criticism for kowtowing to the mainland's one- China stance, "president" Chen took China as a part of Taiwan while acknowledging the island's Chineseness.

That goes against his persistent stance. The only tenable explanation of such an abrupt face-change is campaign considerations.

A campaign of expediency cannot be taken seriously, especially when it comes from a man who himself is not serious about his words.

Chances are you will see Chen's face change back soon after March 20.

(China Daily March 1, 2004)