Beijing Wednesday reproached Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian for going
against the common aspiration of all Chinese people for national
reunification in order to promote creeping independence in his
first two years in office.
Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the
State Council, said the mainland would continue its policy of
"listening to Chen's words and watching his deeds" over the next
two years until his term ends in 2004.
The policy was put forward after Chen, from the pro-independence
Democratic Progressive Party, won the "presidential" election in
March 2000 as a major effort to warn him against taking any radical
separatist moves.
"In the past two years, he has embraced neither the one-China
principle nor the 1992 consensus and has even refused to recognize
himself as Chinese," Zhang told a regular press conference.
"What's worse, he has been continuously engaging in gradual
pro-independence activities and recently went even further,
claiming that Taiwan is a sovereign state."
Since taking office, Chen has conducted a string of de-Sinofication
moves, aimed at creating a "Republic of Taiwan" -- part of his
creeping-independence policies.
Zhang, however, said the Taiwan leader cannot be the master of the
cross-Straits question despite his conspiracy to separate the
island from the motherland.
He
indicated that Beijing is fully capable of reuniting the island and
mainland through its long-standing principle of "one country, two
systems" and by peaceful means, while not undertaking to renounce
the use of force.
The spokesman's remarks are Beijing's first official comment on
Chen's mid-term performance, since he came to power on May 20,
2000.
Zhang urged Chen to stop indulging in political show in his talk of
improving cross-Straits relations and to return to the one-China
principle by taking practical steps.
As
for the establishment of the three direct links across the Taiwan
Straits, Zhang said Beijing was looking forward to the negotiations
between Taiwanese private groups and their mainland
counterparts.
He
added that the talks could be given substance if the Taiwan
authorities entrusted or authorized these private groups to
negotiate directly with the mainland on opening trade, transport
and postal services.
He
reiterated the mainland's stance that the three direct links must
be taken as internal affairs within one country and in line with
the principles of directness, bilateralism, reciprocity and mutual
benefit.
(China Daily May 30,
2002)