Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

ANTI-SECESSION LAW ABSURD: MAC

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-12 17:22:02

    Taipei, March 12 (CNA) The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged Beijing Saturday not to enact its "anti-secession law," calling it an absurd law that has stirred up resentment among the people in Taiwan.

    Stressing that Beijing cannot hide or lessen the absurdity of the law no matter how hard it tries, the MAC said in a statement that what matters now for Beijing is to put an end to the legislation in order to secure peace and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It added that it would be a great mistake for Beijing to go against the Taiwan people's aspirations for peace.

    The MAC made it clear that the law has fully exposed Beijing's hegemonic mindset and paranoid intent to arbitrarily determine Taiwan's future as seen in the provision that authorizes the use of "non-peaceful means" in dealing with Taiwan. It pointed out that the provision is proof that Beijing's calls for peace and exchanges across the strait are all a lie.

    The Cabinet-level MAC is Taiwan's top agency in charge of mainland policy planning.

    MAC Vice Chairman Chiu Tai-san said Beijing's insistence on enacting the law despite the Taiwan people's disapproval is counterproductive to the fragile cross-strait relations, describing the latest remarks by a ranking Beijing official on the law as "the same old lines."

    Chiu said that the international community will not accept Beijing's military action against Taiwan and that it is beyond doubt that Beijing is seeking to unilaterally deny the Republic of China's sovereignty through the "anti-secession law."

    Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office under Beijing's State Council, repeated late Friday that the "anti-secession" legislation is not aimed at the majority of the Taiwan people, but rather at "a few separatists seeking Taiwan independence."

    The National People's Congress, Beijing's ceremonial parliament, is expected to pass the law before the conclusion of its ongoing annual session Monday.

    Chen Ching-chun, a legislative caucus whip of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), urged leaders of the two sides to sit down and open peace talks. He said that Beijing should give up its "anti-secession" legislation if it really wants peace with Taiwan.

    Chen's counterparts in the People First Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union echoed his comments, saying that the law is a scheme by Beijing to downgrade the ROC and make Taiwan surrender and become a part of mainland China.

    To counter Beijing's military intimidation, the ruling DPP is planning a large-scale protest for March 26 in Taipei. At least half a million people are expected to take part in the demonstration.

(By Flor Wang)

ENDITEM/Li