China will use non-peaceful and other necessary means in the
event that "Taiwan independence" forces take action leading to the
island's secession from China, according to Vice Chairman Wang
Zhaoguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPC). Wang was speaking on Tuesday in Beijing as he
explained the proposed?Anti-Secession Law to the NPC and
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
The draft law states that China would also use non-peaceful
means should major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession occur, or
should possibilities for a peaceful reunification be completely
exhausted.
Under those circumstances, "the state shall employ non-peaceful
means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty
and territorial integrity," Wang said.
The Taiwan question is one left over from China's civil war of
the late 1940s. Resolving the Taiwan question and accomplishing
China's complete reunification is one of the three historic tasks
of the Communist Party of China and the country.
Over the years China has hoped to develop stronger relations
across the Taiwan Straits and promote a peaceful reunification of
the motherland. However, in recent years the Taiwan authorities
have intensified activities aimed at separating Taiwan from
China.
"Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defense of our
sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort,
when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification prove futile,"
Wang said. "No one is more desirous of achieving a peaceful
reunification than we are."
But Wang stressed that no sovereign state can tolerate secession
and every sovereign state has the right to use necessary means to
defend its territorial integrity.
The draft states that China will do its utmost to protect Taiwan
civilians and foreign nationals, their property and other interests
in Taiwan should non-peaceful means be used. Taiwan compatriots in
other parts of China would be entitled to the same protection.
The law has been in the works for years, as its writers have
reworked the draft to incorporate suggestions from NPC deputies,
members of the National Committee of the CPPCC, specialists,
average citizens and overseas Chinese communities.
General Secretary Hu Jintao of the Chinese Communist Party
Central Committee chaired a forum for leaders of the central
committees of China's non-communist parties, the All-China
Federation of Industry and Commerce and selected persons with no
party affiliation. Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing
Committee, convened several workshops and meetings to listen to the
opinions of leading local officials, jurists and Taiwan specialists
and others.
At its 13th meeting, the NPC Standing Committee unanimously
approved the Anti-Secession Law draft and decided to submit it to
this NPC session for deliberation, Wang said.
Full
text of Anti-Secession Law explanations
Four-point
Guidelines on Cross-Straits Relations Set Forth by President
Hu
(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2005)
