Chen's move draws widespread criticism
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-03-03 06:08

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday called on the international community to be alert to the dangerous move by the Taiwan authorities to scrap a government body dedicated to unification with the mainland.

The move is a grave provocation to the one-China principle widely observed by the international community and will undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, said Wen during a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The German Government firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is worried about the move, said Merkel, hoping the Taiwan issue is resolved peacefully in line with the one-China policy.

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian declared on Monday that the "National Unification Council" would cease to function and the "National Unification Guidelines" cease to apply.

The Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Wang Guangya, met separately with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and General Assembly President Jan Eliasson on Wednesday to convey the grave concerns of the Chinese Government over Chen's latest secessionist move.

Annan said that he had closely followed the developments and is worried over the dangerous situation which had arisen because of Chen's statements, according to Wang.

Annan also reiterated the United Nations' adherence to the one-China principle, Wang said.

Eliasson promised that he, as the assembly president, would handle the Taiwan question prudently and properly, Wang said.

Chen's move has drawn wide international opposition.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it viewed "with the utmost seriousness?Chen's move. "We think such decisions will frustrate efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,?it said.

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong said yesterday that China appreciates Russia's stance on the issue.

Zeng made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Russian Minister of Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev. Zeng said Chen's actions are grave provocations to the one-China principle.

The European Union said on Wednesday that it was "concerned?about Taiwan's recent announcement, adding that the decision was "not helpful to maintain stability and peaceful development in the Taiwan Straits."

South Korea yesterday also called for stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"We do not want the region's situation to be negatively affected by one side unilaterally altering the status quo in cross-Taiwan Strait relations," South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said. "Our government has consistently supported one-China policy," he said.

Foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang yesterday said Chen's move is a grave affront to the one-China principle.

"I believe Chen's secessionist policies will be widely condemned by the international community,?he said in a regular press briefing.

Asked whether China is satisfied with the United States?response to Chen's move, Qin urged Washington to stick to its commitments on the Taiwan question and be aware of the seriousness and harm of secessionist activities in Taiwan.

(China Daily 03/03/2006 page1)