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So Much for the "Common Interest": Article
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily publishes a signed article Thursday to call for a halt to the speech on "common interest," as alleged by Taiwan's leader in a recent interview with a US journalist.
"The so-called common interest is actually a 'common disaster,' as the attempt of the Taiwan authorities to form a military alliance with the United States and Japan and reject reunification will sacrifice the interest of the 23 million Taiwan compatriots and serve the interest of the 'Taiwan Independence' force alone," says the article, written by Wang Guoqiang.
The Taiwan leader, in an interview with a U.S. journalist, said military cooperation between the United States, Japan and Taiwan are conducive to peace on the Taiwan Straits and stability in the Asia Pacific region, and conform to the common interest of the three sides.
The so-called common interest is nothing but a trick by the Taiwan leader to deceive the world, the article says.
It is known to all that a peaceful reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all the Chinese people. The fundamental interest of the Taiwan compatriots will be damaged if the "Taiwan Independence" forces would trigger off a war between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.
The Chinese mainland will continue to stick to the fundamental principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" on the Taiwan issue. The Chinese government wants to seek a peaceful solution to the issue more than anyone else, the article says.
Today's heavy military expenditure in Taiwan has seriously affected the people's life. Ever since he took office, the new Taiwan leader has spent large amounts on the procurement of weapons from the west and frequently organized military maneuvers.
"What the heavy expenses have brought to the Taiwan people is extra burden, rather than security," the article comments.
Analysis of Taiwan scholars shows that Taiwan's military expenditure on the basis of per million people has led all Asian countries and regions. If Taiwan takes part in the theater missile defense (TMD) project or conducts joint military exercises, all the expenses will still come from the pockets of the Taiwan people, already overloaded with military expenses.
In addition, by seeking help from foreign military forces, the Taiwan authorities have betrayed the Chinese nation, says the article.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, not a protectorate of any foreign country, and the Taiwan issue is China's internal affairs. There is no way out for the Taiwan authorities to act as the cat's paw for the anti-China forces in the U.S., as it is for all the sensible people to see that Sino-U.S. trade has been on the rise by 20 percent annually in recent years, and China and the U.S. have become important trading partners.
The sound development of a win-win Sino-U.S. trade relationship calls for a stable and peaceful environment. Involvement in the cross-straits conflict will not only damage China's national security, but also the U.S. economic benefits.
On the other hand, the article points out that military cooperation between the United States, Japan and Taiwan will certainly lead to sustained tension across the Taiwan Straits, which runs counter to the interest of all Asia-Pacific nations including Japan. Most of these countries understand and support the Chinese government's principled stand to seek a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue.
It warns that the Taiwan authorities' attempt to form military alliance with the United States and Japan will cause new tension across the Taiwan Straits and in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Only if the two sides across the Taiwan Straits settle their dispute under the 'one China' principle can they achieve a peaceful reunification and remove the influence of the Taiwan issue on the security of the entire Asia-Pacific region," the article says.
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