The Chinese government lashed out at Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian on Monday, when a senior official on Taiwan affairs told
Reuters news agency that Chen's gestures with regard to
cross-Straits relations are "insincere."
"He keeps double-dealing to disguise his Taiwan independence
activities, deceive international public opinion and win votes. We
have already seen through his tricks," said Wang Zaixi, deputy
director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office in an
interview. "I am confident the international community will also
clearly see his hypocrisy and true intention to promote Taiwan
independence gradually."
During the interview, Wang talked about Chen's recent
suggestions of remarks about tensions across the Taiwan Straits, on
restarting negotiations and creating a new constitution.
The pro-independence activities of Taiwan's authorities have
escalated, and his remarks have become more and more blatant, Wang
said.
"I think on the surface Chen Shui-bian's remarks on relations
across the Taiwan Straits have a certain kindness, but in reality
they protect his Taiwan independence separatist stance," Wang
said.?????
Wang said when Chen talks about restarting talks on the basis of
the 1992 Consensus, he avoided the 'one-China' principle of the
consensus. "Without the 'one-China' principle, what's the basis for
negotiations? He is just putting up a show."
Wang said Chen's recent advocacy of creating a new constitution
in 2006 that "suits the times, the body and needs," clearly
contravenes his promise of "amending the constitution but not
making a new constitution" and "the amendments won't touch such
issues as reunification with China's mainland or Taiwan
independence and sovereignty.
"Making a constitution in 2006 and establishing a 'new and
normal country' in 2008 is entirely a timetable for pushing forward
independence," Wang said.
He said the next several years would be a crucial, high-risk
period in the development of what he referred to as "the Taiwan
situation" and a period when cross-straits relations would
experience a severe test.
He said the government keeps high vigilance against separatist
moves advanced by Chen and won't tolerate Taiwan splitting from
China through any means.
"The Chinese government has repeatedly said it will exert the
utmost effort and the utmost sincerity to achieve peaceful
reunification," said Wang. "The main concern is the interests of
the Taiwan compatriots."
"But Chen Shui-bian's authorities are exploiting our restraint
on the Taiwan issue," he said. "They are attempting to exploit the
fact that the mainland compatriots are focusing energy on
developing the economy and exploit our preparations for the 2008
Olympics," said Wang.
"They are trying to bind Taiwan compatriots to their separatist
chariots, making Taiwan compatriots their stake and hostages.
That's very immoral, irresponsible and an extremely dangerous act
of playing with fire," he said.
He said the Chinese government and people will never allow
anybody to separate Taiwan from China by any means and will
safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity at any
cost.
(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2004)