Spokesman hits Chen on provocative speech
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-10-13 11:49

A spokesperson for China's central authorities criticized Taiwan regional leader Chen Shui-bian's speech on Oct. 10, and urged early resumption of cross-Straits talks on condition of One China Principle.

Zhang Mingqing, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Chen Shui-bian's speech on October 10 constitutes to a grave provocation to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait at a press conference Wednesday morning in Beijing. Chen solicits a question in this November 26, 2003 file photo at a press conference in Beijing. [newsphoto]

Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press conference Wednesday morning that Chen Shui-bian's speech has constituted a grave provocation to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"In his speech, Chen Shui-bian preached that 'The Republic of China is Taiwan and Taiwan is the Republic of China', which was an open and audacious expression of 'Taiwan independence'," said Zhang Mingqing, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's cabinet, at a press conference Wednesday morning.

Although Chen claimed in his Oct. 10 speech that he had the intention to ease tension and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, he had obstinately stuck to his separatist stand of "one country on each side" across the Strait, the spokesman said.

Moreover, Chen had continued to deny the fact that Taiwan is a part of China and had wantonly stigmatized and viciously attacked the motherland to fuel the tension across the Strait.

"He had exposed his lies by himself," the spokesman said.

The spokesman also said that the central government's stance on cross-strait dialogue and negotiations remains unchanged.

"We have repeatedly called for an early resumption of dialogue and talks across the Strait on the basis of the 'one-China' principle," he stressed.

However, Zhang said the "one-China" principle is the precondition for the resumption of talks and dialogue across the Taiwan Strait.

The Association for Relations Across Taiwan Straits (ARATS) of the mainland and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) of Taiwan reached the consensus in 1992 that "both sides across the Taiwan Strait stick to the 'one-China' principle", though each side may have their own interpretations, said the spokesman.

"As long as the Taiwan authorities accept the 1992 Consensus, the dialogue and talks between the two sides can resume immediately," he added.

Taiwan businesses protected in mainland

On the status of Taiwan businesses in the mainland, Zhang said legitimate interests and rights of Taiwan businesses on China's mainland are well protected and won't be influenced by the mainland's attitude towards Chen Shui-bian's speech.

"It's our consistent policy to treat the Taiwan compatriots differently from Taiwan authorities and die-hard 'Taiwan independence' separatists," said Zhang.

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