Taiwan's Move on Passports Step towards 'Independence'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 14, 2002

Taiwan's Move on Passports Step towards 'Independence'

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian said Sunday that he had given the go-ahead to add "Taiwan" to the cover of local passports.
His move has drawn criticism from both the mainland and Taiwan. The practice was described by Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office as "inching towards Taiwan independence."

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Chen Shui-bian's Excuse

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian said Sunday that he had given the go-ahead to do so.

Chen said the move was necessary to distinguish the island in the international community and offer convenience to Taiwan residents.

Practice "Inching" Towards Independence: TAC

Chen's practice was described by Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office as "inching towards Taiwan independence."

A spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office said Sunday that this was only an "excuse," as the main purpose was to "realize the concept of Taiwan independence" and it is worth "paying attention to the move" in the future.

Move to Split the Country: Taiwan Parties

Taiwan's "lawmaker" Fung Hu-hsiang, who is from the island's New Party, said that the Taiwan authorities' practice is "walking towards Taiwan independence".

Cao Yuanzhang, who is from the People First Party of Taiwan, said it is the new move taken by Taiwan authorities to implement the policy of "Taiwan independence" and split the country step by step.

Details of Alteration Not Fixed

"Foreign ministry" spokesman of Taiwan Chang Siao-yue said Sunday that details of the passport alteration had not yet been fixed.

Chen Shui-bian, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, grabbed power after defeating the Kuomintang party in the election in 2000.

President Jiang on Taiwan Issue

China's mainland will continue its efforts for an improvement of the relations across the Taiwan Straits and enhance liaison and exchange of visits between people of the two sides, said Chinese President Jiang Zemin during a New Year Tea Party hosted by the National Committee of the CPPCC on January 1, 2002.

Jiang stressed that to realize a complete reunification of the motherland through resolving the Taiwan issue is to the utmost interest of the Chinese nation.

Since the new century, cross-strait economic cooperation has been enhanced while exchange of visits increased. The policy of "Peaceful Reunification and One country, Two systems" has gained more and more welcome and admiration by the people in Taiwan, he noted.

Cross-Strait Relations: One-China Principle Is the Focus

This special year-end article, written by People's Daily correspondent Wu Yaming and published on page 6 of this newspaper on December 29, focuses on the following three points: Economic and Trade Relations; Political Stalemate and One-China Principle. (Full Text)

Cross-Strait Relations: One-China Principle Is the Focus

Taiwan Authorities and Their Leader's Nature Revealed by Their Attack on '92 Consensus'

Official Warns Taiwan Authorities Against Attempt to Change "Passport"

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