Curbing "Taiwan Independence" Urgent Task
Xinhuanet, May 17, 2004
The Office for Taiwan Affairs under the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China (CCCPC) and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the
State Council were authorized to issue a statement on current
cross-Straits relations on Monday.
The following is a translation of the full text of the
statement:
At present, the relations across the Taiwan Straits
are severely tested. To put a resolute check on the "Taiwan
independence" activities aimed at dismembering China and safeguard
peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits is the most pressing task
before the compatriots on both sides of the Straits.
Four years ago, Chen Shui-bian pledged himself to the
so-called "five no's" policy. His track record, however, was
one of broken promises and bad faith. He said he would not declare
"independence", but he has mustered together all kinds of
separatists for "Taiwan independence" activities. He said he
would not change Taiwan's so-called "national title", but he
has incessantly clamored for "rectification of Taiwan's name"
and "desinification"in Taiwan. He said he would not push for
the inclusion of the so-called "state-to-state" description in
the constitution, but he has dished out a separatist proposition of
"one country on each side". He said he would not promote
"referendum to change the status quo in regard to the question of
independence or unification", but he has tried every possible means
to promote "Taiwan independence" by way of referendum. He said
there was no question of abolishing the "National Unification
Council" and the "National Unification Guidelines", but he
has long since shelved them, letting them exist only in name. What's
more, Chen Shui-bianhas left Taiwan society deeply torn with his vicious
mischaracterization of the popular will of the Taiwan people, his
unbridled instigation of hostility and animosity towards the mainland,
and his frenzied provocation to the status quo that boththe mainland and
Taiwan belong to the one and same China. He has even put out a timetable
to move the island to independence through the making of a new
constitution, thus pushing the cross-Straits relations to the brink of
danger.
"Taiwan independence" does not lead to
peace, nor national dismemberment to stability. We will never compromise
on the one-China principle, never give up our efforts for peace
negotiations, never falter in our sincere pursuit of peace and
development on both sides of the Straits with our Taiwan compatriots,
never waverin our resolve to safeguard China's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, and never put up with "Taiwan
independence".
No matter who holds power in Taiwan in the next four
years, as long as they recognize that there is only one China in the
world and both the mainland and Taiwan belong to that one and same China,
abandon the "Taiwan Independence" stance and stop the
separatist activities, then, cross-Straits relations can hold out a
bright prospect of peace, stability and development along the following
lines:
-- Resumption of cross-Straits dialogue and
negotiations, formal ending of the state of hostility through
equal-footed consultations, establishing a mechanism of mutual trust in
military field, and jointly building a framework for peaceful, stable and
growing cross-Straits relations.
-- Maintaining close links in an appropriate manner
between the two sides of the Straits so as to address the problems in
cross-Straits relations through timely consultations.
-- Realizing comprehensive, direct and two-way
"three links" so as to facilitate commerce, trade, exchanges,
travel, tourism and other activities by compatriots on both sides.
-- Establishing closer economic cooperation
arrangement on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. Taiwan can
optimize its industrial structure and upgrade its enterprise
competitiveness in the course of cross-Straits economic exchanges and
cooperation and join the mainland in meeting the challenges of economic
globalization and regional integration. Taiwan can also acquire greater
market access on the mainland for its agricultural products.
-- Increasing exchanges between the compatriots on the
two sides of the Straits in the interest of removing misunderstanding,
enhancing mutual trust and building common ground.
-- The Taiwan compatriots can realize their
aspirations for cross-Straits peace, social stability and economic
prosperity while enjoying harmony and tranquility in cross-Straits ties.
-- Properly addressing, through consultations, the
issue of international living space of the Taiwan region commensurate
with its status so as to share the dignity of the Chinese nation.
If, however, the Taiwan leaders should cling to their
"Taiwan independence" position and their separatist "one
country on each side" stance, the afore-mentioned prospect will not
come true. What is more, hopes for peace, stability, mutual benefit and a
win-win scenario in cross-Straits relations will evaporate.
The Taiwan leaders have before them two roads: one is
to pull back immediately from their dangerous lurch towards independence,
recognizing that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the one and
same China and dedicating their efforts to closer cross-Straits
relations. The other is to keep following their separatist agenda to cut
Taiwan from the rest of China and, in the end, meet their own destruction
by playing with fire. The Taiwan leaders must choose between such two
roads. The Chinese people are not afraid of ghosts, nor will they be
intimidated by brutal force. To the Chinese people, nothing is more
important and more sacred than safeguarding the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of their country. We will do our utmost with the
maximum sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification of
the motherland. However, if Taiwan leaders should move recklessly to
provoke major incidents of "Taiwan independence", the Chinese
people will crush their schemes firmly and thoroughly at any
cost.
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