China's National People's Congress (NPC) Foreign Affairs Committee has strongly condemned US congressional acts which it says show strengthening US-Taiwan military cooperation.

In a statement released in Beijing on Monday, it said the US House of Representatives recently adopted the Fiscal Year 2003 Defense Authorization Act, which contains items strengthening US-Taiwan military cooperation. The act flagrantly demands that the US military "shall implement a comprehensive plan to conduct joint operational training for, and exchanges of senior officers between, the Armed Forces of the United States and the military forces of Taiwan."

Meanwhile, the US Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2003 State Department Authorization Act, which details increasing arms sales to Taiwan, asking the US President to sell four Kidd-class destroyers to Taiwan.

The statement said that these Taiwan-related Acts passed successively by the US House and Senate seriously violated China's sovereignty and constituted wanton interference in China's internal affairs. "We resolutely oppose and strongly condemn the matter."

The Act adopted by the US House claimed that the purposes of their demand to implement the plan to strengthen US-Taiwan military cooperation are to improve the so-called "defensive abilities" of Taiwan and to enhance "interoperability" between the military forces of Taiwan and the United States, the statement added.

It said this is virtually an intention to establish a paramilitary alliance between the United States and Taiwan, leading US-Taiwan relations towards military alliance.

In 2000, the US House of Representatives adopted the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, which was later shelved in the Senate in face of strong opposition and condemnation from China, the statement said.

Now, it added, a small number of US legislators would not leave the matter to rest. Turning a blind eye to earnest representations from China, they again raised again the specter of interfering in China's internal affairs. Being grave of the nature, if the Act became law, the consequences would be dangerous.

The statement said that it is indisputable that the provisions relating to Taiwan in the Act the US House of Representatives has passed, are aimed at bolstering the "Taiwan independence" forces and encouraging their arrogance in "denying peace by use of force" and "denying reunification by use of force" thus obstructing the cause of China's peaceful reunification.

The statement said that it is seriously detrimental to Sino-US relations as well. The Chinese people are extremely indignant about it and it is impossible for them to accept.

It said that the Taiwan question has always been the most important and sensitive core question in Sino-US relations. Both the US Democratic and Republican governments have committed themselves to adherence to the one-China policy and principles of the three China-US joint communiquis. This forms the cornerstone for normal Sino-US relations.

But for a long time now certain people in the United States have resorted to every possible trick to interrupt and undermine the development of Sino-US relations via the Taiwan question. They repeatedly put forward resolutions which went against the three joint communiquis, particularly the China-US August 17th Joint Communiqui, the statement said.

It said that striking examples are the Acts concocted by the US Senate and House of Representatives and other related actions taken by the US on the Taiwan question.

The statement also noted that having survived difficulties and hardships, the present Sino-US relationship need to be mutually cherished and maintained by both sides, because it conforms to the basic interests of both countries.

Strengthening military cooperation between the United States and Taiwan and increasing weapon sales to Taiwan will certainly raise tensions in the Taiwan Straits and endanger the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, the statement said.

It will not only undermine the interests of China, but also harm the interests of the United States and shake the basis of Sino-US relations, the statement said.

Moreover, it said, history has repeatedly proved that whenever the US scrupulously observes the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiquis on the Taiwan issue, Sino-US relations develop smoothly. Otherwise Sino-US relations will take an unexpected turn and even fall back.

"We hope that US legislators pay serious regard to the importance of Sino-US relations, handle the Taiwan issue properly, and act more to promote Sino-US relations than to hinder them," the statement said.

"We hope the US government will strictly abide by the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiquis and its related commitments and take effective measures to prevent the above acts from becoming law, so that the stable and healthy Sino-US relations can be continuously advanced," the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2002)