US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the United States
opposes the efforts made by the leader of Taiwan to seek
independence.?
"Let me tell you what I just told the premier on this issue. The
United States government's policy is one China," President Bush
told reporters in a joint appearance with visiting Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao in the Oval Office of the White House.
"We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to
change the status quo, and the comments and actions made by the
leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions
unilaterally to change the status quo, which we oppose."
Premier Wen stressed that China's fundamental policy on the
settlement of the issue of Taiwan is "peaceful reunification and
one country, two systems."
"We would do our utmost, with utmost sincerity, to bring about
national unity and peaceful reunification through peaceful means,"
he said.
"The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan
for democracy, but we must point out that the attempts of Taiwan
authorities, headed by Chen Shui-bian, are only using democracy as
an excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendum to break
Taiwan away from China," Wen pointed out.
"Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can
absolutely not accept and tolerate," he stressed.
The Chinese premier, who arrived in the United States on Sunday
for a four-day official visit, expressed appreciation for the
position adopted by President Bush on the question of Taiwan. "We
appreciate the position of the US government," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2003)