China hopes that the United States would honor its commitments
and oppose Taiwan's provocative activities aimed to split China,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing
Tuesday.?
Liu said at a regular press conference that the United States
should handle properly the Taiwan issue in order to safeguard peace
and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the common interests
between China and the United States.
Liu said the US side had reiterated on many occasions that it
would stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US
joint communiques and oppose "Taiwan independence."
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Some senior US officials including State Department spokesman
Richard Boucher had recently emphasized that any move towards
"Taiwan independence" is dangerous and the United States opposes
any referendum to change Taiwan's status and to move to "Taiwan
independence," said Liu.
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The separatist forces in Taiwan sought "Taiwan independence" under
the disguise of "democracy" and "human rights," which is fraudulent
and dangerous, said Liu, adding that "Taiwan independence" had
become the major threat to the peace and stability across the
Taiwan Straits.
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During his official visit to the United States, scheduled to begin
on Dec. 7, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will exchange views with the
US side on the Taiwan issue, said Liu.
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Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear stalemate, the spokesman
said China has close contacts with all countries concerned and
preparations for a second round of six-party talks are in full
swing.
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"There are two key issues -- one is to ensure a nuclear-free
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the other is to solve
the security concerns of the DPRK," said Liu.
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He said all parties involved still have differences on the two
issues as well as other related questions.
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The specific date for the second round of six-party talks on the
Korean nuclear issue is undecided, but all the parties are making
preparations. "We're hoping for an early date for the second round
of talks," said Liu.
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Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokesman said China regards the
Geneva Initiative as a good attempt to achieve peace in the Middle
East and welcomes such an initiative.
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Liu said that the initiative played a positive role in promoting
the peace process in the Middle East.
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Chinese Middle East special envoy Wang Shijie attended the
international Geneva Initiative conference on the Palestine-Israel
issue in Geneva on Monday and exchanged views with the participants
on issues like the Middle East peace process.
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Liu said China will continue to push forward the just and
comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue at an early date
together with the international community.
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The Geneva Initiative, a Palestine-Israel peace plan, was formally
launched in Geneva Monday.
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In another development, the spokesman said President of the China
Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) Deng Pufang, who won the 2003
United Nations Prize in Field of Human Rights, deserves the
prize.
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Liu made the remark at a congratulatory speech for Deng.
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Deng has devoted himself to improving the lives of China's disabled
people and protecting their human rights, and contributed greatly
to improving the situation of the disabled people, Liu said.
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Deng also actively advocated international cooperation in
protecting the rights and interests of disabled people, and made
consistent efforts to improve the situation and protect the rights
and interests of disabled people across the world, Liu said.
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The prize is both an appreciation of Deng's achievements, and an
affirmation of China's efforts in promoting and protecting human
rights, Liu said.
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(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, December 3,
2003)