Xinhua: China Refuses to Rule Out Use of Force Against Taiwan

[bich dao <daotb@yahoo.com>]

 China Refuses to Rule Out Use of Force Against Taiwan

   WASHINGTON, August 19 (Xinhua) -- China's consistent policy on
the Taiwan question is peaceful reunification on the basis of "one
country, two systems", but it refuses to rule out the use of
force, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Li Zhaoxing said at
a press conference here Thursday.
   "We refuse to rule out the use of force. We keep that option
open not to target at the people in Taiwan, but to stop possible
Taiwan independence and foreign invasion or intervention against
the island," Li Zhaoxing said.
   The Chinese government and people have both the determination
and capability to maintain China's sovereignty, unity and
territorial integrity, Li said.
   Lee Teng-hui, the so-called "President" of Taiwan, could avoid
total condemnation only if he abandons his "state-to-state"
fallacy and returns to the "one China" principle, he added.
   Commenting on the recent remarks by some American politicians
that the U.S. would protect Taiwan militarily should China use
force on Taiwan, the ambassador said that Chinese people love
peace and long for peace, but they will not be cowed by threats
and blackmails from anyone.
   "Taiwan is part of China. It is not Florida, Hawaii or Guam.
The Taiwan issue is China's internal affair which brooks no
foreign interference," he said.
   He said China has noted the U.S. government has committed to
follow the "one China" policy, abide by the three joint
communiques, and not to support Taiwan independence, "two Chinas"
or "one China, one Taiwan" and Taiwan's membership in the U.N. and
other international organizations where statehood is required.
   "Only Lee Teng-hui wants a military flare-up between China and
U.S.," he said, "he wants Americans to do things for him at their
expense."
   "What is in there for the vital U.S. interests? I hope people
with vision in this country can understand this and judge wisely."
   The ambassador accused Lee Teng-hui of "racking his brains" to
undermine China-U.S. relations and to damage the basis for
cross-Straits dialog in an attempt to seek Taiwan independence.
   "Lee Teng-hui's motive for putting forth the 'state-to-state'
doctrine is crystal clear. The crux of the matter is that he is
after Taiwan independence, denying the "one China" principle and
separating Taiwan from China," Li Zhaoxing said.
   "Facts show that Lee Teng-hui is the biggest obstacle to the
cross-Straits dialog and China's peaceful reunification. He is the
biggest trouble-maker for China-U.S. relations. And for the time
being, he is also the biggest destabilizing factor in the
Asia-pacific region," he said.
   On the question of Taiwan's entry into World Trade
Organization(WTO), the ambassador said as a separate customs
territory of China, Taiwan can join the WTO only after China has
become its member. Enditem






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