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China firmly opposes attempt to separate Taiwan
By (Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-03-14 19:10
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday China will never allow anyone to
separate Taiwan from the motherland by any means, while striving for peaceful
reunification with the utmost sincerity and greatest efforts.
Wen said he would like to have his message taken to Taiwanese compatriots
that there is only one China in the world, and the Taiwan Straits can never
sever the "blood relations" shared by Chinese both on the mainland and in
Taiwan.
The mainland will strive to maintain stability across the Straits with the
utmost efforts and push for direct mail service, trade, air and shipping
services across the Straits, as well as cross-Straits economic, cultural and
personnel exchanges, the premier said at a press conference after the close of
the national legislature's annual session.
The mainland will strive for an early resumption of cross-Straits dialogue
and negotiations under the one-China principle and for the eventual peaceful
reunification of the motherland, the premier said.
Wen said the referendum scheduled for March 20 in Taiwan, which is sponsored
by the Taiwan authorities for Taiwan independence under the pretext of
democracy, poses a threat to stability across the Taiwan Straits, and challenges
the universally acknowledged one-China principle.
The premier said he appreciated the international opposition to the
referendum, and the open statement on the one-China principle made by the
international community, including the United States, is conducive to
maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.
"I hope the United States and other countries would honor their commitment to
the one-China principle, and make due contribution to maintaining stability
across the Taiwan Straits and to China's peaceful reunification," Wen said.
The Taiwan issue, left over from China's civil war, is the internal affairs
of China, and will eventually be resolved by the Chinese people on their own,
said the premier.
China has sovereignty over Taiwan, which has been recognized by the
international community, he said.
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