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 | Thursday, April 27, 2000, updated at 16:12(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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"Taiwan Independence" Is Not Allowed: Army DailyThe Liberation Army Daily April 7 published a signed article entitled "Taiwan Independence" in Any Form Is Not Allowed, stressing that the future of Taiwan relies on the complete reunification of China.The change of leader in Taiwan region can by no means change the fact that Taiwan is recognized internationally as inseparable part of China. Insisting that the One-China Principle is not a "topic" but a premise for the cross-straits talks and negotiations, the article reiterates the central government's positions of Taiwan being part of China and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity being inseparable. According to the history of Taiwan, Taiwan has been a Chinese territory since ancient times. The history of the Republic of China came to an end when the People's Republic of China government replaced it as the sole legal government and representative in international affairs. China's territory and sovereignty have remained intact; and the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have never been two states. The Taiwan issue can only be resolved on the basis of the One-China Principle. The bottom line of a peaceful resolution would be broken if the One-China Principle is shaken, the article says. The One-China Principle is related to the state sovereignty and to realize reunification of the motherland is both the starting- point and end-result for cross-straits negotiations. The Chinese government will never hold talks with those who are engaged in " Taiwan independence". When the leader of Taiwan was changed not long ago, leaders of the mainland made it clear that if the One-China Principle is recognized, Taiwan leader is welcome to come and talk on the mainland or the mainland leaders could also visit and talk in Taiwan. Talks can also be held between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits of the mainland and the Straits Exchange of Foundation of Taiwan. If the One-China Principle is denied, there will be no ground for improving the cross-straits relations and holding political negotiations across the straits and exchange of visits by leaders of the two sides. The attitude towards the One-China Principle is an important symbol for judging if a Taiwan leader is in favor of "Taiwan independence" or really advocates peace across the straits and gradual advancement towards the reunification, according to the article. It condemns Lee Teng-hui, who has ruled over Taiwan for 12 years, saying Lee's plots revealed his true nature as an advocate of "Taiwan independence." The new leader of Taiwan is urged to think carefully, face the reality, and do something practical for breaking the deadlock on the cross-straits relations and improve and develop the cross- straits relations. The article warns that there is no way out for "Taiwan independence". Over the past five decades, it says, the Chinese government has exerted hard efforts to boost the cross-straits relations and realize the reunification of the motherland. For most of the years after 1949, the Taiwan authorities adhered to the stance of one China and opposed the plotting of " two Chinas" and "Taiwan independence," though it had never recognized the People's Republic of China government's legal status as the representative of China. It indicates that Chinese living on the two banks of the straits hold a consensus on this fundamental issue, the article stresses. The Chinese government's issuance of the principles of " peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" has relaxed tension across the Taiwan Straits and led to the increasingly expansion of the cross-straits economic, trade and cultural exchanges, it says. During his 12 years in power, Lee Teng-hui has basically been engaged in splittism and "Taiwan independence." The "two-state" remarks Lee has made only hasten his demise from power. Lee's defeat shows that whoever is engaged in "Taiwan independence" and separatism will never come to any good. The Taiwan issue has become even more urgent after the return to the motherland of Hong Kong and Macao. The two banks of the Taiwan Straits can not separate from each other for ever and the Taiwan issue cannot remain unresolved indefinitely, according to the article. It is the common will of the entire Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots to completely end the hostility across the straits and realize the reunification of the motherland at an early date, it says. The article goes on to say that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) defeated the Kuomintang (KMT) in the regional elections of Taiwan, just because the DPP had lowered its tone of "Taiwan independence" and promised to revise its party constitution advocating "Taiwan independence". The corruption and splitting of the KMT and Lee Teng-hui's support of "Taiwan independence" are also factors contributing to the KMT's loss of power. "Taiwan independence" is against the fundamental interests of the Chinese people, the article says, emphasizing that "Taiwan independence" means nothing but war. Whoever in power in Taiwan must not be engaged in "Taiwan independence" and the Chinese government and the Chinese people will never allow "Taiwan independence" in any form. Activities for "Taiwan independence" are also against international legal norms. All the 161 foreign countries that have diplomatic relations with China have recognized the One-China Principle and promised to handle their relations with Taiwan within the framework of one China. The determination and capabilities of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to halt any form of "Taiwan independence" should not be underestimated, the article says. The mainland has been making the most sincere efforts to seek for peaceful reunification but has never promised to abandon the use of force. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is a great wall of steel guarding the country and shoulders the sacred responsibilities of safeguarding state security and territorial integrity and the unity of the motherland. In the process of resolving the Taiwan issue, the mainland will try every possible means to realize a peaceful reunification, it says. "But we could be forced to adopt every possible, determined measures to complete the great cause of the reunification of the motherland, if any major events that lead to the separation of Taiwan from China occur, if foreign forces invade Taiwan, and if the Taiwan authorities have refused, indefinitely, to peacefully resolve the Taiwan issue through negotiations," it says. The PLA is completely determined, confident and capable of safeguarding the state sovereignty and territorial integrity and will by no means tolerate and sit by and watch the success of any plots to split the motherland, the article stresses. Both history and reality show that Taiwan's future relies on the complete reunification of China, it says. Throughout history, Taiwan's fate has been closely tied with the ups and downs of the motherland. A unified and powerful motherland is always the root of Taiwan, and Taiwan, when separated with the motherland, would be reduced to the status of a colony or a subordinate of big powers, the article concludes.
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