One China Is Indisputable Fact ����The press departments of the Taiwan Work Office of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council today refuted the Taiwan authorities' written explanation on "special state-to-state relations." ����On August 1, the "Mainland Affairs Council" of the Taiwan authorities issued an explanation on Lee Teng-hui's "two states" remark amid strong condemnation by the Chinese people. It's an apologia that stubbornly sticks to Lee's remarks, said an article issued by the offices. ����Taiwan is part of China's territory, and both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one country, not two. "This is an indisputable fact that has been proved true by history, reality, and law," the article said. ����Since ancient times, the island of Taiwan has been part of China. The Chinese government exercised sovereignty over the island until 1895, when it was snatched away by the Japanese imperialists. ����However, the Chinese people never accepted the unequal treaties forced upon them, and fought unflaggingly for their abolition. ����During World War II, both the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation categorically stated that Japan should return all occupied Chinese territories, including the island of Taiwan, to China. ����In August 1945, Japan announced acceptance of the Potsdam Proclamation. Two months later, Taiwan returned to the motherland. Ever since then, Taiwan's status as part of Chinese territory has never been changed, the article said. ����The founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in October 1949 terminated the rule of the Republic of China (ROC) over the country. The Government of PRC became China's sole legitimate government, and the sole legitimate representative on the international stages, the article said. ����Ever since then, the so-called ROC on Taiwan has lost all its legitimacy. "It has never been a fact that two China co-exist internationally, as proclaimed by Lee Teng-hui. This is but his own scheme and fantasy," the article said. ����In October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution recognizing the representative of the PRC government as China's sole legitimate representative at the UN, and announcing the expulsion of the ROC from the world organization. ����Over 160 countries worldwide have established diplomatic ties with the PRC, and all of them recognize the fact that there is only one China, that Taiwan is part of China, and that the PRC is the sole legitimate government of all China. ����It is the right of every country to safeguard its territorial integrity, and this is also the basic norm of international law, the article said. ����A country's sovereignty belongs to the whole nation that allows no alteration by any region or any number of people, the article said. ����The fact that the two sides of the Straits have not been reunified does not affect in any way Taiwan's status as part of China's territory and Chinese sovereignty over the island, the article said. ����The written explanation claimed that the "special state-to-state relations" statement is aimed at ensuring "equal status" for cross-Straits talks, but in fact, this is a total lie that is not in accordance with facts, the article said. ����The article said the statement by the Taiwan authorities attempted to win sympathy from world opinion under the pretense of "equality," in order to achieve its aim of splitting the country. ����It is known to all that the CPC and the Chinese government have been practicing the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems'" since 1979, and have always stood for achieving reunification through talks on an equal footing. ����Chinese leaders including Ye Jianying, former chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Deng Xiaoping, and President Jiang Zemin have all made remarks in this regard. ����Based on changes in the Taiwan political situation, Jiang Zemin said on October 12, 1992 that under the premise of the "one China" policy, every issue can be discussed. ����The article said that in fact the Association for Relations Across Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) have been conducting their negotiations on an equal footing since they began consultations in 1992. ����The article said the "two states" remark is aimed at further curbing cross-Straits dialogue and talks and separating Taiwan from China. ����In 1992, ARATS and the SEF reached a consensus that the two sides across the Straits uphold a "one China" policy. ����But the Taiwan authorities said the "two sides have their own explanations of the 'one China' policy", according to the article. ����It is not true to fact, the article said. Its aim is to advocate their separatist stand. ����The article said the "two states" statement deliberately sabotages cross-Straits relations and the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific Region. ����It said without the "one China" policy, cross-Straits talks will lose their basis and reunification can not be achieved. ����It said the "two states" remark is a deliberate provocation to the 1.3 billion Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and Lee Teng-hui should bear all responsibilities for his remarks. ����The article said that in order to separate Taiwan from China, Lee Teng-hui takes no heed of their security, interests, or well being, and his attempt will lead to calamities for the 22 million Taiwan people as well. ����The article concluded that no matter how the written explanation tries to exonerate Lee Teng-hui from responsibility, Lee is the "trouble maker" of the international community. TopNews 1999-08-13 Page3 Full Story in Chinese