Army Official: China Will not Sit Idle on Separatist ActivitiesXiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said Monday that the Chinese government, the armed forces and people will never sit idle if any force inside or outside Taiwan engages in separatist activities.Xiong made the remarks when he held talks with visiting Czech First Deputy Defense Minister Jaromir Novotny in Beijing on April 17 afternoon. Xiong said the guiding principle to resolving the Taiwan issue is "peaceful reunification," and "one country, two systems." However, "We will never commit to abandoning the use of force," he stated. He reiterated that the "one China" principle forms the basis and prerequisite for peaceful reunification. Meanwhile, he stressed that "the Chinese government, the armed forces and people will never sit idle provided any force inside or outside Taiwan carries out any kind of separatist activities which threaten China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, or undermine the fundamental interests of the Chinese people." Novotny said that the Czech government adheres to the "one China" principle, and has always believed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China. Xiong also briefed the guests on China's foreign policy, domestic situation and the army building. Novotny and his party arrived here this morning on a five-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese Ministry of Defense. |
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