China Protests EP Invitation to Chen Shui-bian

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 16, 2003

China Protests EP Invitation to Chen Shui-bian

China deeply regrets and firmly opposes the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament inviting Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian to attend its meeting and make a speech on March 26.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

China deeply regrets and firmly opposes the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament inviting Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian to attend its meeting and make a speech on March 26.

A spokesman for the First Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) made the remarks Saturday, commenting on the CPEP's recent decision.

The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is the concern of all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, he said.

It is known to all that there is only one China in the world, which includes both the mainland and Taiwan. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity allows no separation. This fact is recognized by the international community, he said.

While the Chinese government is devoted to achieving peaceful reunification of the motherland by implementing the policy of "one country, two systems", Taiwan's leader Chen Shui-bian refuses to accept the one-China principle and instead advocates the statement of "one country on each side" (of the Taiwan Strait) and attempts to separate Taiwan from China, he said.

Chen has been trying to make visits to and transits of other countries to gain support for his separatist activities. By adhering to his stance of "Taiwan independence" and carrying out separatist activities, Chen poses the greatest threat to the peace and stability in the region, the spokesman said.

The European Union (EU) and its member states enjoy long-term friendly relations and cooperation with China. The relationship is based on the one-China principle and indicates the mutual respect of each other's sovereignty, he said.

China appreciates the EU and its member states' adherence to the one-China principle and their policy of supporting China's peaceful reunification, the spokesman said.

However, it is regretful that the Conference of Presidents of the EP has decided to invite Chen to attend its meeting and advocate his separatist position at such a platform. This decision has violated the EU's political commitment to the one-China principle and ignored the traditional friendly relationship and cooperation between China and EU members, he said.

The decision is against the current sound development of Sino-European relations and is actually conniving with the forces advocating "Taiwanese independence". It is also a defiance of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will undoubtedly interfere with and seriously hurt the development of friendly Sino-European cooperation, he said.

That development is obtained through joint efforts by both sides, including the persistent efforts of the EP and the NPC in these years. The relationship is favorable to the fundamental interests of China and Europe as well as to the peace and development of the world, said the spokesman.

The spokesman said that NPC members ardently hope that their counterparts at the European Parliament can clearly recognize Chen's real attempts to go in for "Taiwan independence", split China and sabotage Sino-European relations, and revoke their invitation to Chen.

China also hopes the European Parliament, as an important EU organization, consider Sino-European relations and adhere to the one-China policy that the EU has reiterated time and again, he said.

Only in this way can the Sino-European comprehensive partnership develop steadily and soundly, he concluded.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Stresses EU Commission's Adherence to One-China Principle

China Warns US not to Send Wrong Signals to Taiwan ( 3 Messages)

Germany smashes US Fancy of Submarine Sale to Taiwan ( 2 Messages)

Who'll Pay Money for US-Planned 'Toppling Saddam'? ( 7 Messages)

Chinese Scientists Refute US Claims on Rocket Data Transfer ( 3 Messages)

Traditional Chinese Medicine Grabs World Attention ( 16 Messages)