Latin American Countries Reiterate "One China" Policy

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Latin American countries have reiterated their "One China" policy, criticizing the recent separatist remarks by Taiwan's Lee Teng-hui.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Marcos Galvao said that Brazil has been recognizing the government of People's Republic of China as the only legitimate one representing the whole China ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1974.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China," he said.

Galvao said Lee Teng-hui's recent remarks that relations between Taiwan and China were on a "state-to-state" basis will introduce a negative element to the cross-Straits relations.

The spokesman said Lee's remarks mean that Taiwan authorities do not follow the principle of "One China" but "One China and One Taiwan" or "Two Chinas."

The Venezuelan government on Wednesday also reaffirmed its position that there exists only one China, which is the People's Republic of China.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Relations, in a press release, said the principle of "One country, two systems" is of great importance to the reunification of China.

Chile's Foreign Minister Juan Gabriel Valdes on Wednesday told Xinhua that Chile maintains its clear policy toward China, recognizing only the People's Republic of China. And "we maintain our
invariable friendship with the People's Republic of China."