The central government holds that the "peace framework" and
"pattern of negotiation" proposed by the Taiwan authorities are
shams, according to Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan
Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council.
At a Wednesday press conference, Zhang said that Taiwan leader
Chen Shui-bian's separatist activities have triggered tension
across the Taiwan Straits and seriously endangered peace and
stability in the region.
The May 17 statement issued earlier this year by the Taiwan Work
Office of the Communist Party Central Committee and the TAO
demonstrates the mainland’s sincerity in promoting cross-Straits
relations as well as its firm resolution to safeguard national
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement says that the mainland will never compromise on
the one-China principle, never give up the effort for peace talks,
never stop sincerely seeking peace and development with Taiwan
compatriots, never waver in its resolution to safeguard national
sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never tolerate Taiwan
independence.
But the Taiwan authorities obstinately push independence
activities, making Chen Shui-bian's "peace framework" and "pattern
of negotiation" meaningless.
The central government will not have any dealings with the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unless it abandons its party
program of Taiwan independence, said Zhang.
The mainland welcomes Taiwan people to come for visits or to
exchange ideas about the advancement of peaceful reunification and
improving relations across the Straits, in accordance with the
eight-point proposal presented by former President Jiang Zemin in
1995 on the settlement of the Taiwan issue, said Zhang.
The central government continues to welcome DPP members who are
not among the tiny minority of separatists to come to the mainland
for travel, or investment, business, medical treatment or
study.
Zhang also noted that US Secretary of State Colin Powell's
recent remarks "Taiwan is not independent" complies with the
foreign policy of the United States.
"During his recent visit to China, Powell explicitly said the
United States would unswervingly pursue the one-China policy and
opposes Taiwan independence," said Zhang. "We also noticed that
Powell told Hong Kong's Phoenix Television that Taiwan is not
independent and is not a sovereign a nation.'"
These remarks accord with the China policy of the United States,
Zhang said, and after the remarks were made the US State Department
reiterated that the nation would adhere to the one-China
policy.
Zhang also noted that despite this, the US has not followed the
arms sales restrictions agreed upon in the three Sino-US Joint
Communiqués.
According to the communiqués signed on August 17, 1982, the US
will reduce and eventually halt arms sales to Taiwan. In addition,
arms sales to Taiwan shall be limited to defensive weapons.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn October 27, 2004)