Jiang: China will not allow 'Taiwan independence'

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 17, 2004

Jiang: China will not allow 'Taiwan independence'

China will stick to the principles of "One Country, two systems" and "peaceful renunification" on Taiwan issue, but will never tolerate Taiwan independence, Central Military Commission Chairman Jiang Zemin said Thursday, Jan. 15.

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Jiang Zemin meets top US general

China values the commitment of the government of the United States, and hopes the US will continue its constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue, said a Chinese military leader on Jan. 15.

"We adhere to 'peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems', and will make all efforts to achieve reunification with Taiwan by peaceful means, but will not allow Taiwan's independence," he said.

Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US armed forces, and stressed that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-US relations.

Jiang said that Sino-US relations had developed although ups and downs still existed since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 25 years ago.

Top US military officer pays visit to Beijing

He said that both China and the US are major powers of the world, and with different domestic situations, the two countries have differences on some issues, but they also shared common interests.

The development of Sino-US constructive and cooperative relations conforms to the fundamental interest of the two peoples, and is conducive to world peace and stability as well, Jiang said.

He said that Sino-US relations have maintained good momentum, and the two sides should deal with the relationship from the strategic and long-term viewpoint, expand consensus, reduce differences, and solve problems, to push forward a healthy and stable bilateral relationship.

Myers said that during the visit, he has good talks with Chinese military leaders on US-China military relations and the international and regional security situation, and the two sides had reached consensus.

He said that the US is satisfied with the military relationship, and is ready to work with China to continue the existing momentum.

Myers arrived here Jan. 12 on an official visit to China. Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of the CMC, and Cao Gangchuan, CMC vice-chairman, state councilor and minister of defense of China, met with Myers on Jan. 14.

Myers: Beijing talks beneficial

Myers said that his talks with Chinese military leaders in Beijing are beneficial and making very good progress on military to military relationships.

The air force general said that US seeks to establish constructive, stable relations with China and looks forward to maintaining the good momentum between the two militaries.

His visit is just one more step to keeping the good momentum between the two militaries, accordinig to Myers.

He revealed that US and China will hold defense discussions on February 11-12. Later this year, his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanlie will visit the US as his guest. The US also has other port call plans.

The value of military to military exchanges is to increase transparency of military and avoid misunderstandings, he said, adding that this will help resolve future problems.

He pointed out that the relations between the two great countries are becoming increasingly closer as their economic relationships continue to grow. To sustain the economic development and prosperity, both China and the US need a stable and secure environment. China and US are both Asia-Pacific countries and have huge economic interest in the region.

On the Taiwan issue, Myers said that China knows the US position and US understands China's position. When meeting last year with Premier Wen Jiabao, President Bush pointed out that the US sticks to the one-China policy and opposes any side of the Taiwan Straits to unilaterally change the status quo.

He went on to say that the US strongly believes that the situation can be resolved peacefully.

Turning to the DPRK nuclear issue, Myers said both China and the US like to see a nuclear-free Korea Peninsula and the US appreciates China's efforts in pushing forward the six-party talks.

On the situations in Iraq, Myers said, from the security point of view, the situations became a little bit better, since the capture of Saddam Hussein. More Iraqis are willing to provide information for the coalition troops. Maybe they feel free after Saddam capture.

The US hope to realize the transmission of sovereignty to the Iraqis in this summer, Myers said. He added that the US is trying very hard to turn Iraq into a modern democratic country and this is beneficial not only to the region, but also to the world.

Top US general's China tour beneficial: FM

The visit to China by Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US armed forces, will play a positive role in promoting bilateral military relations, said Kong Quan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. on Thursday.

Myers arrived here Tuesday for a good-will and official visit, and, during his stay in Beijing, he met with Jiang Zemin, chairmanof the Central Military Commission, and other military leaders.

Kong said Myers and Chinese officials discussed three topics:

-- The formation of constructive China-US relations. China and the United States have differences, but they are outweighed by common interests. The development of China-US constructive and cooperative relations benefits both countries, and is conducive toworld peace and stability.

-- The military relationship, which is an important component of the state relationship. The two sides agreed to promote contacts and mutual understanding in military relations.

-- The Taiwan issue, which is the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations. The Chinese government adheres to theprinciples of "peaceful reunification", and "one country and two systems", and would like to make all efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, but it will not allow Taiwan's independence. CMC chairman Jiang Zemin reaffirmed that China valued the US government's commitment, and hoped the US side would play a constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue.

By People's Daily Online

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