The Office for Taiwan Affairs under the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Taiwan
Affairs Office of the State Council were authorized to issue
a statement on current cross-Straits relations on Monday.
The following is
a translation of the full text of the statement:
At present, the
relations across the Taiwan Straits are severely tested. To
put a resolute check on the "Taiwan independence"
activities aimed at dismembering China, and to safeguard
peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits are the most
pressing tasks before the compatriots on both sides of the
Straits.
Four years ago, Chen Shui-bian pledged himself to
the so-called "five no's" policy. His track
record, however, was one of broken promises and bad faith.
He said he would not declare "independence", but
he has mustered together all kinds of separatists for
"Taiwan independence" activities. He said he would
not change Taiwan's so-called "national title",
but he has incessantly clamored for "rectification of
Taiwan's name" and "desinification"in Taiwan.
He said he would not push for the inclusion of the so-called
"state-to-state" description in the constitution,
but he has dished out a separatist proposition of "one
country on each side". He said he would not promote
"referendum to change the status quo in regard to the
question of independence or unification", but he has
tried every possible means to promote "Taiwan
independence" by way of referendum. He said there was
no question of abolishing the "National Unification
Council" and the "National Unification
Guidelines", but he has long since shelved them,
letting them exist only in name. What's more, Chen
Shui-bianhas left Taiwan society deeply torn with his
vicious mischaracterization of the popular will of the
Taiwan people, his unbridled instigation of hostility and
animosity towards the mainland, and his frenzied provocation
to the status quo that boththe mainland and Taiwan belong to
the one and same China. He has even put out a timetable to
move the island to independence through the making of a new
constitution, thus pushing the cross-Straits relations to
the brink of danger.
"Taiwan independence" does
not lead to peace, nor national dismemberment to stability.
We will never compromise on the one-China principle, never
give up our efforts for peace negotiations,never falter in
our sincere pursuit of peace and development on both sides
of the Straits with our Taiwan compatriots, never waverin
our resolve to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity, and never put up with "Taiwan
independence".
No matter who holds power in Taiwan in
the next four years, as long as they recognize that there is
only one China in the world and both the mainland and Taiwan
belong to that one and same China, abandon the "Taiwan
Independence" stance and stop the separatist
activities, then, cross-Straits relations can hold out a
bright prospect of peace, stability and development along
the following lines:
-- Resumption of cross-Straits dialogue
and negotiations, formal ending of the state of hostility
through equal-footed consultations, establishing a mechanism
of mutual trust in military field, and jointly building a
framework for peaceful, stable and growing cross-Straits
relations.
-- Maintaining close links in an appropriate
manner between the two sides of the Straits so as to address
the problems in cross-Straits relations through timely
consultations.
-- Realizing comprehensive, direct and
two-way "three links" so as to facilitate
commerce, trade, exchanges, travel, tourism and other
activities by compatriots on both sides.
-- Establishing
closer economic cooperation arrangement on the basis of
reciprocity and mutual benefit. Taiwan can optimize its
industrial structure and upgrade its enterprise
competitiveness in the course of cross-Straits economic
exchanges and cooperation and join the mainland in meeting
the challenges of economic globalization and regional
integration. Taiwan can also acquire greater market access
on the mainland for its agricultural products.
--
Increasing exchanges between the compatriots on the two
sides of the Straits in the interest of removing
misunderstanding, enhancing mutual trust and building common
ground.
-- The Taiwan compatriots can realize their
aspirations for cross-Straits peace, social stability and
economic prosperity while enjoying harmony and tranquility
in cross-Straits ties.
-- Properly addressing, through
consultations, the issue of international living space of
the Taiwan region commensurate with its status so as to
share the dignity of the Chinese nation.
If, however, the
Taiwan leaders should cling to their "Taiwan
independence" position and their separatist "one
country on each side" stance, the afore-mentioned
prospect will not come true. What is more, hopes for peace,
stability, mutual benefit and a win-win scenario in
cross-Straits relations will evaporate.
The Taiwan
leaders have before them two roads: one is to pull back
immediately from their dangerous lurch towards independence,
recognizing that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to
the one and same China and dedicating their efforts to
closer cross-Straits relations. The other is to keep
following their separatist agenda to cut Taiwan from the
rest of China and, in the end, meet their own destruction by
playing with fire. The Taiwan leaders must choose between
such two roads. The Chinese people are not afraid of ghosts,
nor will they be intimidated by brutal force. To the Chinese
people, nothing is more important and more sacred than
safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
their country. We will do our utmost with the maximum
sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful
reunification of the motherland. However, if Taiwan leaders
should move recklessly to provoke major incidents of
"Taiwan independence", the Chinese people will
crush their schemes firmly and thoroughly at any cost.