Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

TAIWAN VOICES CONCERN TO U.S. OVER CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-09 19:02:36

    Taipei, March 9 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has relayed the government's grave concern to Washington over China's proposed anti-secession legislation targeting Taiwan, MOFA spokesman Michel Lu said Wednesday.

    Lu said the MOFA has transmitted Taiwan's stance and concern to Washington and added that the government has noted the remarks made by the U.S. government on the issue.

    According to Lu, the MOFA views Washington's remarks as a repeat of its long-standing stance on cross-Taiwan Strait relations -- that it opposes any attempts by either side to change the status quo and that it opposes any non-peaceful means to settle Taiwan's future.

    U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher reiterated a call for dialogue between Taiwan and China, pointing out that "passage of legislation is not going to help resolve the problem" across the strait.

    Boucher said it has been the long-term U.S. stance to oppose any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means. He suggested that Beijing reconsider the enactment of the proposed anti-secession law and called on the two sides to be rational and to avoid confrontation.

    The National People's Congress (NPC) , Beijing's ceremonial parliament, is currently reviewing the anti-secession provisions aimed at curbing Taiwan independence. It is expected to pass the law next week, the full text of which will be made known by that time.

    Wang Zhaoguo, vice chairman of the NPC's Standing Committee, explained the anti-secession law Tuesday, saying that Beijing will do its best to obtain peaceful unification with Taiwan but that it will use non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity should all possibilities for peaceful unification be exhausted.

    Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council immediately responded by blasting the law as a blank check for an invasion of Taiwan.

(By Flor Wang)

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