Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Learn Chinese online - China: US misreads Taiwan law

CHINA / US Policy

China: US misreads Taiwan law

(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-16 10:38

China said yesterday that its anti-secession law had been misunderstood
by the United States.

"They don't fully understand the significance of this law," Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

"We reiterate that this law is a law for peace," Liu said. "It's
conducive for maintaining cross-strait relations and the stability of the
Asia-Pacific region and the growth of relations between China, Europe,
the United States and other countries."

"If they realize that, they will not have other opinions on such a law,"
he added.

Washington on Monday said the law "does not serve the cause of peace and
stability" in the region.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the law "runs counter to
recent progress in cross-strait relations."

US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said it "only serves to
harden positions."

Liu also said that while the cross-strait situation is of interest to
many countries, Taiwan is the internal affair of China.

A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council yesterday
criticized the island's Mainland Affairs Council for its distortion of
the Anti-Secession Law.

The spokesman said the MAC aimed to deceive Taiwan compatriots and
international opinion by distorting the law as a move to change the
status quo in the Taiwan Strait and provide "a blank check" for
"annexation of Taiwan" by force in a statement it issued on Monday.

It is dangerous for the MAC to try to once again incite confrontation
across the Taiwan Strait and create a pretext for "Taiwan independence"
secessionist forces to provoke incidents, the spokesman said.

China's parliament voted unanimously with two abstentions on Monday to
enact the law, which aims to improve the cross-strait relations, promote
peaceful reunification of the motherland, and oppose and check "Taiwan
independence" secessionist forces' attempts to secede Taiwan from China,
he said.

The law aims to maintain the peace and stability across the strait,
safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.

The employment of non-peaceful means to prevent Taiwan's secession from
the motherland, which is prescribed in the law as the last resort,
targets "Taiwan independence" secessionists but never Taiwan compatriots,
he said.

"We reiterate that we will never stop our efforts to improve cross-strait
relations, never change our determination to strive for a peaceful
reunification of the country, and never waver in our stance against
'Taiwan independence'," he said.

The spokesman urged Taiwan authorities to stop their secessionist
attempts right away, return to the "1992 Consensus" on the one-China
principle, and do things favorable to the peaceful and steady development
of cross-strait relations.

Related Full Coverages

NPC session ends, Premier meets journalists

Premier Wen Jiabao answers questions from foreign and domestic
journalists after the conclusion of the annual session of the National
People's Congress in Beijing March 14, 2006. The annual meeting of the
top lawmaking body closed at the Great Hall of the People. [Xinhua]
UNSC members meet for Iran nuke issue

Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours

� Bird flu control long-term task: Vice Premier

� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Hebei court hears deadly land dispute case
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation

Today's Top News 

� US senators to visit China to talk trade issues

� Aviation industry to get boost

� Stringent checks on products assured

� US editors on visit for deeper insight

� Wen: We're keeping close eye on secessionist moves

Top China News 

� President Hu preaches morality to the Chinese

� Putin to visit China, oil pipeline on agenda

� Heinz baby cereal may contain GM rice

� China sets minimum age for TV contestants

� Toll hits 21 in N. China coal mine blast

Learn Chinese online

No comments: