China Vows Not to Tolerate Action for "Taiwan Independence"

SINGAPORE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government and people will not tolerate any action for "Taiwan independence" or any attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan told a regional security forum here Monday.

"China's territory and sovereignty are indivisible and brook no violation or interference," Tang said at the Sixth ASEAN Regional Forum.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, which is a historical fact and also the consensus of the international community, Tang said. "The Taiwan question is purely an internal matter of China."

"If there occur any action for Taiwan independence and any attempt by foreign forces to separate Taiwan from the motherland, the Chinese government and people will not sit back and do nothing," he stressed.

A stable, developed and reunified China is a positive factor for peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region, Tang told the 22-member forum, which is being attended by ASEAN's 10 members, its 10 dialogue partners including
China, Russia, Japan and the United States, and Mongolia and Papua New Guinea.

"It has been proved by the age-old Chinese civilization that prosperity and development are associated with unity, while war and conflict come with separation," Tang said.

"To stick to the one China principle is the basis for stabilizing and developing the cross-straits relations, is where the fate of the Chinese nation lies and bears on tranquillity of the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

"To act against this principle and against the historical trend will not enjoy popular support and is doomed to failure," Tang added.

Participants at the one-day meeting of the ARF, which was initiated in 1993, are discussing regional and international security issues.