Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Remarks by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao on July 12 in response to Lee Teng-hui’s flagrant declaration that defined the cross-Straits relations as “state-to-state relations”

Recently, Lee Teng-hui brazenly declared in an interview with Deutche Welle that the Taiwan authorities had defined the cross-Straits relations as “state-to-state, or at least special state-to-state relations”. It has been echoed by certain persons holding responsible positions in the relevant departments of the Taiwan authorities, who have stated that cross-Straits ties have developed from ties between “two equal political entities” to those between “two states” and that the cross-Straits talks are “talks between two states”.

This flagrant declaration by Lee Tung-hui marks an extremely dangerous step he has taken on the separatist road and is an out-and-out negation of and serious provocation against the universally recognized one-China principle. It has further exposed his political nature of deliberately dividing the Chinese territory and sovereignty in an attempt to separate Taiwan from China. This has once again proved that he has cheated Taiwan compatriots and fooled the world opinion in saying that he “will not and has no need to pursue a policy for ‘Taiwan’s Independence’ and that “he has not given up the pursuit for future reunification of the country”, statements that he had made repeatedly in the past.

Since he came into office, Lee Tung-hui has, in disregard of opposition from the majority of the people on the Island, spared no efforts to pursue “pragmatic diplomacy” and gone all out for separatist activities through such despicable means as bribery. Lee Tung-hui has attempted to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” in the world and has gone so far as to define the cross-Straits relations as “state-to-state relations” in defiance of the will of the people. This has fully demonstrated that he has gone too far on the dangerous road of playing with fire. This will undoubtedly seriously obstruct the improvement of ties between the two sides across the Straits, affect the stability of the situation in the Taiwan Straits and jeopardize the peaceful reunification of China.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. China's territory and sovereignty are indivisible. The international community, including the United Nations and the majority of countries in the world, recognizes that Taiwan belongs to China, that the Government of People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is part of China. Though the two sides across the Straits are yet to be reunited, the status of Taiwan as a part of Chinese territory has not changed and brooks no change. The fact that China has sovereignty over Taiwan has not changed and will remain unchanged. The Taiwan question will not possibly be procrastinated indefinitely and China's reunification is bound to be realized. No matter how many separatist remarks Lee Teng-hui makes, he can not reverse the historical trend.

We hereby warn Lee Teng-hui and the Taiwan authorities not to underestimate the firm resolve of the Chinese Government to safeguard state sovereignty, dignity and territorial integrity or the courage and strength of the Chinese people to fight against separation and Taiwan’s independence. The reunification of China represents the general trend and the popular will. Lee Teng-hui and the Taiwan Authorities should size up the situation soberly, rein in at the brink of the precipice and immediately cease all separatist activities.