Chen Shui-bian's 'holy war' against mainland denounced

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 01, 2004

Chen Shui-bian's 'holy war' against mainland denounced

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Beijing condemned Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Wednesday for waging a "holy war" against the mainland, calling him immoral and accusing him of fanning anti-Beijing sentiment to win votes in "presidential" elections.

Newspapers in Taiwan quoted Chen as telling a campaign rally in southern Taiwan on Saturday, the March 2004 elections were a holy war by the Taiwan people against the Chinese communists.

"He unscrupulously fanned Taiwan compatriots' anti-mainland sentiment for his own selfish interest and for the elections," Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a news conference.

"This goes against the will of Taiwan compatriots to seek peace, stability and development," he said. "This is extremely immoral."

In order to win more votes, Chen even proposed a "holy war" against the mainland in his speech on Monday. "His actions go against the will of Taiwanese compatriots to seek peace, stability and development," Zhang said.

Zhang said Chen had continuously violated the One China principle since taking power by his provocative claims and policies. He deceived the Taiwan public and the international community by reneging on promises in his May 2000 inaugural speechto not declare Taiwan independence, nor to incorporate the "two states" remarks into its constitution, nor change the so-called country's name, nor to call a referendum on independence during his tenure.

The office issued an official document on Dec. 25, reiterating the mainland's basic stand and policies on the "three direct links" across the Taiwan Straits-- direct links in mail, transport and trade.

Given the situation caused by the Taiwan authorities, in which dialogue and consultation between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) cannot be resumed, it could be feasible for non-governmental trade organizations on bothsides of the Taiwan Strait to conduct consultations on the "three direct links" issue, according to a document published by the office on Dec. 17 to promote the "three direct links".

Most Taiwan business people had a positive attitude on the document, and the Taiwan authority's political stand was the biggest obstacle to realizing the "three direct links", Zhang said.

US President George W. Bush bluntly warned Taiwan this month against unilaterally changing the status quo with the Chinese mainland, pouring cold water on Chen's drive to hold a referendum.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but remains the island's main arms supplier and trading partner.

Zhang accused Chen of "deceiving" the Taiwan public and the international community by reneging on a pledge he made in his May 2000 inaugural speech not to hold a referendum on reunification versus independence.

Facing a tough re-election battle, Chen has made his provocative claim that Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are separate countries a cornerstone of his campaign, aiming to shore up support from pro-independence voters.

Chinese mainland announced this month the arrest of 24 suspected spies from Taiwan and 19 accomplices from the Chinese mainland, one of the biggest espionage scandals since 1949.

Despite tension, investment, trade and tourism have blossomed since the late 1980s. Taiwan investors have poured up to US$100 billion into the mainland, lured by low land and labour costs and a common language and culture.

Zhang also said time was running out to charter flights between the mainland and Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holidays in January.

Taiwan has banned direct air and shipping links with the mainland since 1949.

Chinese President Hu Jintao reiterated China's adherence to thebasic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" in a meeting with the presidents of associations of Taiwan enterprises on the mainland on Dec. 25.

Hu said the central government welcomed and encouraged Taiwan compatriots to invest in and develop trade and businesses on the mainland, and would support whatever encouraged Taiwan people to develop businesses on the mainland, whatever benefited the economy, science, technology and culture exchanges and cooperation across the strait and whatever helped the development of relations and peaceful reunification.

By People's Daily Online

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