The United States should honor its words, stop selling sophisticated arms to Taiwan, explicitly oppose Taiwan's provocative activities and send no more wrong signals to forces advocating "Taiwan independence", said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Friday evening.

Only by doing so can the interests of both China and the United States be safeguarded and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits be maintained, Liu said when asked by the press to comment on the latest Taiwan-related speech made by a US deputy assistant secretary of state.

Liu said the Chinese government adheres to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems", and no one else in the world has a stronger desire than the Chinese people themselves to resolve the Taiwan issue in peaceful means.

"We will not give up efforts for peace, but we will never put up with 'Taiwan independence,' nor will we allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any way. The Chinese government and people's resolve to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity stands firm and unwavering," Liu said.

He said the Chinese side has noted the relevant remarks of the US official indicating that the United States does not support any of Taiwan's efforts that will alter its present status or that will lead to its "independence."

The US government has had explicit commitments on the Taiwan question to the Chinese government, Liu said, noting that the US side has solemnly stated in the three Sino-US joint communiques that it has no intention to infringe on China's sovereignty or territorial integrity, to interfere in China's internal affairs, or to implement policies such as "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan."

Moreover, US leaders have time and again said they are against "Taiwan independence", Liu said, urging the US side to honor its words.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2003)