Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

'ANTI-SECESSION LAW' EXPOSES CHINA'S INTENT TO INVADE TAIWAN: MAC

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-08 17:52:19

    Taipei, March 8 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) lodged a strong protest Tuesday at what it called China's attempt to use an "anti-secession law" to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, saying the law has exposed Beijing's intent to take over Taiwan by force.

    The MAC issued the statement after China's National People's Congress unveiled the key points of the draft law earlier in the day, which include the use of "non-peaceful" means to check secessionist activities in Taiwan. "The government hereby expresses its strongest protest at the vicious attempt and brutal means of China to sabotage peace in East Asia and stability across the Taiwan Strait, ignore the will of the Taiwan people, and interfere with the freedom of choice of the Taiwan people," the MAC said.

    The MAC said China is attempting to negate the sovereignty of the Republic of China and to change the cross-strait status quo unilaterally by introducing the law.

    The move has cause regional tension, which proves that the worries of the international community and Taiwan are not unwarranted, according to the MAC.

    It said the law has exposed China's ambition to take over Taiwan by force and to build up regional dominance and has virtually given the Chinese military the permission to attack Taiwan.

    The MAC pointed out that the Republic of China is a sovereign state, with the two sides of the Taiwan Strait being independent of each other. "The people of Taiwan will never accept the arrangement of 'one country, two systems' because the future of Taiwan must be decided by the 23 million people on Taiwan, which is a fact that Chinese authorities must face up to," the MAC said.

    It noted that the government has made many efforts to try to improve cross-strait relations over the past five years, which include putting forth a proposal to establish a framework for cross-strait peace and stability.

    The "anti-secession law" will impede cross-strait exchanges and the resumption of cross-strait dialogue and disregard the efforts made by Taiwan, it continued.

    The MAC urged the international community to pay attention to the hegemonic ambition of China and take concrete actions to help maintain the cross-strait status quo and peace.

(By Y.F. Low)

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