NPC Opposes Interference by Euro Parliament and US in Taiwan Question

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 22, 2002

NPC Opposes Interference by Euro Parliament and US in Taiwan Question

Following is the full text of the statement issued Thursday in Beijing by China's National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee on resolutions supporting Taiwan's efforts to join the World Health Organization passed respectively by the European Parliament and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the US Senate:

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The European Parliament passed a resolution on March 14 requiring the European Commission and member states of the European Union to support Taiwan's efforts to join the World Health Organization (WHO) as "an observer".

On March 19, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the US Senate passed a similar resolution in which it appeals for the US government to back Taiwan's efforts to obtain "an observer status" at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly in May, 2002, in Geneva.

By wantonly trampling on the basic norms of the international law, the European Parliament and the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee have acted to interfere in China's internal affairs and infringed China's sovereignty. We are resolutely opposed to such acts.

As we all know, the European Union and its member states and the US government have all expressed more than once their commitment to adhere to the "one-China" policy on the Taiwan question.

Since the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, US administrations, both Republican and the Democratic, have all explicitly stated that they do not support Taiwan's independence, nor does it support "two Chinas", "one China, one Taiwan", nor Taiwan's membership in the international organizations which only accept sovereign states.

The vast majority of the countries in the world stand by the " one-China" policy on the Taiwan question and proceed in accordance with the basic norms of international law.

Being one of the United Nations special organs whose membership is only open to sovereign states, the WHO has overruled proposals for "Taiwan's participation" every year in its Assembly since 1997. A similar proposal was again turned down by the WHO Executive Committee this year.

The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and no country has any right to meddle or interfere in it. Whoever proposes Taiwan's "participation" in the WHO on whatever grounds or by whatever means is an infringement of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and an interference in China's internal affairs which will meet our resolute opposition.

As one of the EU's important organs, the European Parliament should abide by the EU's "one-China" policy. We hope the European Parliament will not impede the development of China-EU relations because of this act.

As for China-US relations, all the ups and downs in the China- US ties are closely related to the Taiwan question. We request that the US government strictly observes the three China-US Joint Communiques and its relevant commitments, and not to support Taiwan's efforts to "participate" in the WHO.

China Opposes Foreign Interference in Taiwan Issue

China Opposes European Parliament's Taiwan Resolution

The Chinese government has accused the European Parliament of interfering in China's internal affairs with its support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). (In Details)

China Opposes US Interference With Internal Affairs: Ambassador

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi has been instructed to make solemn representations with the US government with regard to the US side allowing Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan transit visits to the United States. (In Details)

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Opposes Foreign Interference in Taiwan Issue

China Opposes US Interference With Internal Affairs, Ambassador Says

China Opposes European Parliament's Taiwan Resolution

>> Full Coverage