The Office for Taiwan Affairs under the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council were authorized to issue a statement on current
cross-Straits relations on Monday.
The following is a translation of the full text of the
statement:
At present, the relations across the Taiwan Straits are severely
tested. To put a resolute check on the "Taiwan independence"
activities aimed at dismembering China, and to safeguard peace and
stability in the Taiwan Straits?are the most pressing tasks
before the compatriots on both sides of the Straits.
Four years ago, Chen Shui-bian pledged himself to the so-called
"five no's" policy. His track record, however, was one of broken
promises and bad faith. He said he would not declare
"independence", but he has mustered together all kinds of
separatists for "Taiwan independence" activities. He said he would
not change Taiwan's so-called "national title", but he has
incessantly clamored for "rectification of Taiwan's name" and
"desinification"in Taiwan. He said he would not push for the
inclusion of the so-called "state-to-state" description in the
constitution, but he has dished out a separatist proposition of
"one country on each side". He said he would not promote
"referendum to change the status quo in regard to the question of
independence or unification", but he has tried every possible means
to promote "Taiwan independence" by way of referendum. He said
there was no question of abolishing the "National Unification
Council" and the "National Unification Guidelines", but he has long
since shelved them, letting them exist only in name. What's more,
Chen Shui-bianhas left Taiwan society deeply torn with his vicious
mischaracterization of the popular will of the Taiwan people, his
unbridled instigation of hostility and animosity towards the
mainland, and his frenzied provocation to the status quo that
boththe mainland and Taiwan belong to the one and same China. He
has even put out a timetable to move the island to independence
through the making of a new constitution, thus pushing the
cross-Straits relations to the brink of danger.
"Taiwan independence" does not lead to peace, nor national
dismemberment to stability. We will never compromise on the
one-China principle, never give up our efforts for peace
negotiations,never falter in our sincere pursuit of peace and
development on both sides of the Straits with our Taiwan
compatriots, never waverin our resolve to safeguard China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never put up with
"Taiwan independence".
No matter who holds power in Taiwan in the next four years, as
long as they recognize that there is only one China in the world
and both the mainland and Taiwan belong to that one and same China,
abandon the "Taiwan Independence" stance and stop the separatist
activities, then, cross-Straits relations can hold out a bright
prospect of peace, stability and development along the following
lines:
-- Resumption of cross-Straits dialogue and negotiations, formal
ending of the state of hostility through equal-footed
consultations, establishing a mechanism of mutual trust in military
field, and jointly building a framework for peaceful, stable and
growing cross-Straits relations.
-- Maintaining close links in an appropriate manner between the
two sides of the Straits so as to address the problems in
cross-Straits relations through timely consultations.
-- Realizing comprehensive, direct and two-way "three links" so
as to facilitate commerce, trade, exchanges, travel, tourism and
other activities by compatriots on both sides.
-- Establishing closer economic cooperation arrangement on the
basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Taiwan can optimize its
industrial structure and upgrade its enterprise competitiveness in
the course of cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation and
join the mainland in meeting the challenges of economic
globalization and regional integration. Taiwan can also acquire
greater market access on the mainland for its agricultural
products.
-- Increasing exchanges between the compatriots on the two sides
of the Straits in the interest of removing misunderstanding,
enhancing mutual trust and building common ground.
-- The Taiwan compatriots can realize their aspirations for
cross-Straits peace, social stability and economic prosperity while
enjoying harmony and tranquility in cross-Straits ties.
-- Properly addressing, through consultations, the issue of
international living space of the Taiwan region commensurate with
its status so as to share the dignity of the Chinese nation.
If, however, the Taiwan leaders should cling to their "Taiwan
independence" position and their separatist "one country on each
side" stance, the afore-mentioned prospect will not come true. What
is more, hopes for peace, stability, mutual benefit and a win-win
scenario in cross-Straits relations will evaporate.
The Taiwan leaders have before them two roads: one is to pull
back immediately from their dangerous lurch towards independence,
recognizing that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the one
and same China and dedicating their efforts to closer cross-Straits
relations. The other is to keep following their separatist agenda
to cut Taiwan from the rest of China and, in the end, meet their
own destruction by playing with fire. The Taiwan leaders must
choose between such two roads. The Chinese people are not afraid of
ghosts, nor will they be intimidated by brutal force. To the
Chinese people, nothing is more important and more sacred than
safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their
country. We will do our utmost with the maximum sincerity to strive
for the prospect of peaceful reunification of the motherland.
However, if Taiwan leaders should move recklessly to provoke major
incidents of "Taiwan independence", the Chinese people will crush
their schemes firmly and thoroughly at any cost.
(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2004)