Taiwanin tilanteesta

China has explained the draft Anti-Secession Law which is being examined by the National People's Congress. Vice chairman of the NPC's Standing Committee Wang Zhaoguo explained that the mainland will continue its efforts for a peaceful reunification, but non-peaceful means will be used should the "Taiwan independence" forces act to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China. Liu Wei reports.
The Chinese Government has made unremitting efforts over the years to develop stronger relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and promote a peaceful reunification. But in recent years, the Taiwan authorities have intensified their "Taiwan independence" activities aimed at separating Taiwan from China. They are trying to used the so-called

"constitutional" or "legal" means through referendum or "constitutional reengineering" to back up their secessionist attempt to change the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China. Meanwhile, Chinese people from both home and abroad have become increasingly vocal in the appeal for legal means to oppose and check secessionist activities by Taiwan independence forces and to realize national reunification. The draft law has just come out of such a background, as Vice Chairman of NPC Standing Committee Wang Zhaoguo explained.

"Facts have shown that the secessionist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces gravely threaten China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously endanger the prospects for a peaceful reunification and severely undermine the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. They have posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific Region as a whole."

In recent years, many deputies to the National People's Congress have put forward bills and recommendations on the Taiwan-related legislation and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference have also made many proposals in this regard. This shows that the legislative effort conforms with the will of the people.

According to Wang Zhaoguo, the draft law says that Taiwan is a part of China, and the State shall never allow the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means.

"The draft legislation provides for upholding the principle of one China as the basis of peaceful reunification of the country and reunifying the country through peaceful means as best serving the fundamental interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The State shall do its utmost with maximum sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification. After the country is reunified peacefully, Taiwan may practice systems different from those on the mainland and enjoy a high degree of autonomy.

The draft legislation says as long as the one China principle is adhered to, any issue can be put on the table for discussion.
Wang Zhaoguo reiterated that as long as there is a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, the mainland will exert its utmost to make it happen rather than give it up. But he also pointed out that the mainland has never forsworn the use of force, as no sovereign state can tolerate secession and every sovereign state has the right to use necessary means to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification should prove futile. The draft legislation provides that in the event that the "Taiwan independence forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

He says the non-peaceful means target the "Taiwan independence" forces but not Taiwan compatriots.
After deliberation, deputies to the NPC will vote on the draft legislation next Monday.

Liu Wei, CRI News.
http://en1.chinabroadcast.cn/2238/2005-3-9/[email protected]