China resolutely objects to the Taiwan-related provisions in the US defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2003, which wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing Saturday.

Spokesman Kong Quan made the remark when asked to comment on the defense authorization bill just passed by the US Congress. The provisions relating to Taiwan request the US president to propose reports to Congress on the feasibility of US-Taiwan joint military programs.

China had on many occasions made solemn representations to the United States on the provisions, and the US administration had repeatedly enunciated its objection to the provisions, Kong said.

Kong said China has taken note of the weakening of the provisions in the passage by the Congress. However, Kong said, the current text still constituted a violation of the principles set forth in the three Sino-US joint communiques and the one-China policy which the US side had reiterated time and again, as well as gross interference in China's internal affairs.

"We therefore express our resolute opposition," Kong said.

Kong expressed hope that the US side would realize the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and the harm the provisions would cause, adhere to the one-China policy, the three Sino-US joint communiques, as well as its commitment to oppose "Taiwan independence", and adopt effective measures to prevent the provisions from passing into law.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2002)