Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

ROC GRATEFUL FOR U.S. HOUSE RESOLUTION AGAINST ANTI-SECESSION LAW

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-17 18:02:05

    Taipei, Mach 17 (CNA) The Republic of China government is grateful for all the support and concern shown by the international community for Taiwan in the wake of China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law, a Presidential Office spokesman said Thursday.

    Chen Wen-tsung, director of the Presidential Office's Public Affairs Department, made the remarks a day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution by a vote of 424-4 condemning China's newly enacted law targeting Taiwan. "We appreciate the U.S. congressional resolution expressing grave concern about Beijing's ill-intentioned piece of legislation, " Chen said.

    Noting that China's "anti-secession" legislation codifies the use of non-peaceful means against Taiwan, Chen said he is convinced that no government or individuals who value freedom, democracy and peace could accept such an act or sit idly by.

    Since Beijing's rubber-stamp National People's Congress passed its Anti-Secession Law March 14, Chen said many countries around the world have voiced concern and support for Taiwan. "The Presidential Office is very grateful for the warmth and friendship shown by the international community toward us at this critical moment," Chen said.

    The U.S. House resolution demands that the Bush administration voice its grave concern about Beijing's provocative action in enacting a law authorizing the use of force to stop Taiwan from seeking formal independence.

    The resolution also urges the administration to reaffirm the U.S. policy that the future of Taiwan should be resolved by peaceful means and with the consent of the people of Taiwan.

    The resolution was introduced by Chairman of the House International Relations Committee Henry Hyde and the Committee's ranking member Tom Lantos along with a handful committee members, including Chris Smith, Dan Burton, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Dana Rohrabacher, Steve Chabot, Darrell Issa, Jo Ann Davis, Joe Wilson and Connie Mack.

    The resolution concludes that: (1) The Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China

    provides a legal justification for the use of force against

    Taiwan, altering the status quo in the region, and thus is of

    grave concern to the United States; (2) The president of the United States should direct all appropriate

    officials of the United States Government to reflect the grave

    concern with which the United States views the passage of China's

    Anti-Secession Law in particular, and the growing Chinese

    military threats to Taiwan in general, to their counterpart

    officials in the Government of the People's Republic of China; (3) The government of the United States should reaffirm its policy

    that the future of Taiwan should be resolved by peaceful means

    and with the consent of the people of Taiwan; (4) The government of the United States should continue to encourage

    dialogue between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China.

(By Jorge Liu and Sofia Wu)

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