Lee Teng-hui Condemned for Defying One-China Principle

The People's Daily, China's leading newspaper, published a commentator's article on September 7 condemning Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui and his "two states" remarks.

Lee Teng-hui has defied the principle of "One China" and ruined the foundations for the normal development of cross-Straits relations, the article says.

It outlines the history of Lee Teng-hui's approach to the "two- states" remarks, and points out that the intention of his remarks like "one country, two governments," or "one country, two political entities" is to defy and abandon the "One-China" principle.

The article also reviews Lee Teng-hui's divisive actions in such areas as history and culture, cross-Straits relations, and Taiwan's external relations. Lee stripped off his usual camouflage when he made the public remark about the "state-to-state" relations, the article notes.

The "One-China" principle is the basis and precondition for the peaceful reunification of the motherland as well as a necessary condition for a healthy growth of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

What Lee Teng-hui has done does not repudiate this principle and change the framework under which the international community recognizes only one China in this world, the article stresses.

It says Lee cannot prevent Chinese people from at home and overseas from safeguarding the unity of the motherland and fighting against splittism.

No matter how serious and complicated the situation will be, the Chinese Government and Chinese people are determined to eventually realize the reunification of the country by removing all difficulties, the article says.