Taiwan separatists not to be tolerated
By Hu Cong (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-12-23 23:09

The Chinese Government seeks peaceful reunification with Taiwan but will never tolerate separatist "independence" efforts, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a news briefing yesterday.

Liu was responding to recent remarks by US Deputy-Secretary of State Richard Armitage that there is only one China and Washington would not be required to defend Taiwan.

"China and the United States should cultivate constructive co-operation based on the principles of the two countries' three joint communiques, and make common efforts to promote peace and prosperity of the world," said Liu.

Armitage's comments earlier stirred an uproar in Taiwan since they were viewed as a strong warning to moves by radical independence advocates in Taiwan.

Some Taiwan media have said the United States does not want the situation in the Taiwan Straits to spin out of control and wants to avoid any misinterpretation and miscalculation.

No more illegal break-ins

Liu appealed for foreign missions not to accept illegal intruders any longer, in an answer to reports that unidentified persons who forced their way into Canada's embassy in Beijing in late September have now been sent to a third country.

He said the intruders' entry to China was illegal and they are a threat to the security of foreign institutions in China as they often force their way into embassies and international schools.

He urged foreign embassies in China to abide by international law and not to accept illegal intruders. He attributed a few embassies' indulgence as well as the some foreign non-governmental organizations' plotting to occurrences of those illegal break-ins.

"China handles these incidents with a principle of combined consideration of domestic law, the international law and the spirit of humanitarianism," he added.

Energy co-op hailed

Liu said China is hopeful of further energy co-operation with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted in Germany on Tuesday during his visit that Chinese and Russian oil companies may have closer co-operation.

"President Putin has said at times Russia's decision to strengthen strategic co-operation with China in energy fields will not change," Liu said, "and we appreciate the stance and hope energy co-operation between China and Russia will be conducted effectively."

ROK official's visit

Regarding to Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's visit to China which winds up today, Liu said Chung has discussed with Chinese officials on bilateral relations and the nuclear issue in the Korean Peninsular.

When he met with Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress on Tuesday, Chung asked Wu to pass a letter from ROK President Roh Moo-hyun to President Hu Jintao. No more details of the letter were given out.

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