State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Monday criticized the so-called
"defensive referendum", launched by Taiwan authorities, at a forum
to commemorate the Ninth Anniversary of Jiang Zemin's Important
Speech entitled "Continuing to Endeavor for the Accomplishment of
the Grand Cause of Reunification of the Motherland".
Tang delivered a speech at the forum, saying that though the
leader of the Taiwan authorities called the referenda "defensive"
and "peaceful", this provocation, no matter how it was packaged,
can only cause confrontation and animosity between the two sides,
aggravate the already strained relations and push them further to
the brink of danger.
"This runs completely counter to the mainstream desire of Taiwan
compatriots for peace, tranquility and prosperity. Instead of a
deepening of Taiwan's democracy, it is a design to mislead and
manipulate the Taiwan people," Tang said, adding that it is also a
serious threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region
and the international community at large.
He said the real threat to Taiwan's security does not come from
the mainland, but from the unbridled activities of Taiwan
independence separatism whipped up by the Taiwan authorities.
"It is the Taiwan independence forces that threaten to cause the
unraveling of the status quo in the cross-Straits relations and put
peace in the Straits in danger. The Taiwan authorities have twisted
the mainland's justified efforts to oppose Taiwan independence
separatism and maintain stability in the Straits as an excuse to
launch the referenda," Tang said. He said the "baseless accusation"
turns the truth upside down, and aims to win more sympathy and
support for their separatist ambition.
He stressed that the leader of the Taiwan authorities has
refused to accept the one-China principle, denied the "1992
consensus", advocated such separatist propositions as "one country
on each side", pushed for incremental Taiwan independence, and even
put out a timetable for Taiwan independence, thus seriously eroding
the foundation for closer cross-Straits relations and posing a
grave threat to peace and security in the Taiwan Straits.
Nine years ago, Comrade Jiang Zemin made an important speech
entitled "Continuing to Endeavor for the Accomplishment of the
Grand Cause of Reunification of the Motherland". Inheriting and
building on Comrade Deng Xiaoping's thinking of "peaceful
reunification and one country, two systems", the speech put forward
an eight-point proposal on the development of cross-Straits
relations and the advancement of peaceful national
reunification.
"The speech is the programmatic document for the solution of the
Taiwan question," Tang said.
"Over the past nine years, we have firmly and persistently
implemented the basic policy of 'peaceful reunification and one
country, two systems' and the eight-point proposal, and facilitated
stronger cross-Straits relations through the adoption of many
positive and pragmatic policies and measures," he said. " Today,
exchanges between the compatriots on both sides are closer and more
dynamic".
Tang pointed out that "we must continue to adhere to the basic
principle of 'peaceful reunification and one country, two systems',
earnestly implement the eight-point proposal on the development of
cross-Straits relations in the current period and the advancement
of peaceful reunification, unite with the Taiwan compatriots in an
effort to move forward the cross-Straits relations and hasten the
realization of China's reunification."
"We stand for resolving the political differences between the
two sides of the Taiwan Straits in a spirit of equality and
accommodation, and we are ready to push the cross-Straits dialogue
and negotiations in a pragmatic and equal manner consistent with
the one-China principle," he said.
He pointed out that by advocating "no pre-conditions for
cross-Straits talks and negotiations", the Taiwan authorities are
in fact trying to renege on the consensus reached by the two sides
on the adherence to the one-China principle, thus fundamentally
negating the fact that the two sides of the Straits belong to the
same country.
Their true motive is to presuppose a national split and Taiwan
independence, and to erect obstacles to negotiations, he said.
As long as the two sides, in the context of the one-China
principle, negotiate and reach an agreement on officially ending
the state of hostility, tensions in the Taiwan Straits could be
eased, and the steady growth of the cross-Straits relations could
be guaranteed, he said, adding that this is the most practical and
most effective way to maintain Taiwan's security and ensure peace
and stability across the Straits.
Tang pointed out that "we hope to see an early realization of
the 'three links' in a comprehensive, direct and reciprocal manner
so as to break new ground for cross-Straits economic cooperation
and bring greater benefits to the compatriots on both sides."
"We are positive about the establishment of an economic
partnership mechanism and efforts to build closer economic
relations between the two sides. We would like to hear the views
and suggestions from the various circles in Taiwan in this regard",
he continued.
He stressed that "we will continue to implement the policy of
'placing our hope on the Taiwan people', and work hard and
persistently to promote peaceful reunification and common
development by uniting with the Taiwan compatriots. We shall
earnestly protect the interests of the Taiwan compatriots, address
their concerns as if they are our own and do everything possible to
help the Taiwan compatriots with their problems."
"We treat all Taiwan compatriots equally, regardless of their
provincial origins. We do not discriminate against those who are
adopting a wait-and-see, a suspicious, or even a negative or
antagonistic attitude toward closer cross-Straits relations, as we
are ready to have contact and interaction with them for increased
understanding and greater identity of views," he said. "As long as
one does not cling tenaciously to the 'Taiwan independence'
position, we will exchange views with him and work for greater
mutual trust through better communications."
The forum was also attended by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the
National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC) and Liu Qi, secretary of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) Beijing Municipal Committee, among others.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2004)