The People's Liberation Army will have zero tolerance toward
"Taiwan independence" moves, Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said
yesterday.
"We will absolutely not allow Taiwan to secede from China under
any pretext or in any manner," Cao said at a grand reception
marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese
army.
The PLA is ready, capable and resolute enough to stop any
activity that could lead to Taiwan "independence" in order to
safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he
added.
"The army will continue to make the utmost effort in promoting
peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Straits and
strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification," said the
defense minister.
"Peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits is in the
interest of not only Taiwan people and Chinese mainlanders, but
also the international community."
He also noted that the army should modernize and "informatize"
further.
"With the world becoming more and more interdependent and with
the increase in non-traditional security threats, we face new
opportunities and challenges to maintain world peace and
development," said Cao.
He reiterated that the PLA is an army of the people under the
leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
"The absolute leadership of the CPC guarantees that the military
will take the right course," he said.
Cao urged the armed forces to continue their efforts in social
development by participating in natural disaster rescue operations,
building a socialist countryside, developing the western regions
and helping other key national projects.
"China's military will further strengthen cooperation and
exchanges with foreign counterparts on the basis of equality,
mutual respect and benefit," Cao said at the reception at the Great
Hall of the People in Beijing, which was also attended by military
attachs from embassies in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)