DATE=5/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262513
BYLINE=LETA HONG FINCHER
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: China is stepping up pressure on Taiwan
President-elect Chen Shui-bian before his inauguration
this Saturday. V-O-A's Leta Hong Fincher reports from
Beijing that the Chinese warn of catastrophe if the
new president refuses to acknowledge the "one-China"
principle.
TEXT: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang
Qiyue issued a new warning to Taiwan's President-elect
Chen Shui-bian, saying he must acknowledge Taiwan is a
part of China.
/// ZHANG ACT-IN CHINESE, THEN FADE ///
Ms. Zhang says if Taiwan's new leaders truly care
about the well being of the Taiwanese people, the
smooth development of cross-strait relations, and
peace in the Asia-Pacific, they should acknowledge the
"one-China" principle.
Ms. Zhang's comments are the latest in a series of
threatening statements in Chinese official newspapers.
The People's Daily, China Daily, and the Liberation
Daily all ran editorials warning of what they call -
catastrophe - if Taiwan refuses to accept
reunification with the mainland.
Mr. Chen will become Taiwan's new president Saturday.
China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long
threatened to invade the island if its leader declared
independence.
Mr. Chen poses a particular threat to Chinese leaders
because his party, the Democratic Progressive Party,
formally espouses independence. Mr. Chen has backed
away from that stance since his election victory on
March 18th. But Beijing is still distrustful of him
and will be listening closely to what he says in his
inauguration speech.
/// REST OPT ///
Ms. Zhang also lashed out against Tokyo Governor
Shintaro Ishihara, who is planning to attend Mr.
Chen's inauguration. She says Sino-Japanese relations
will suffer if the Tokyo governor goes ahead with his
visit.
/// ZHANG ACT-IN CHINESE, THEN FADE ///
She says China urges the Japanese to honor its
commitments made to China on the question of Taiwan.
Ms. Zhang advised Mr. Shintaro and other political
figures in Japan not to do anything that interferes in
China's internal affairs. (SIGNED)
NEB/HK/LHF/GC/JO/RAE
18-May-2000 07:58 AM EDT (18-May-2000 1158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|