Overseas Chinese have called for opposition to the Taiwan
authorities' secessionist attempts.
In a declaration made during a two-day conference which ended on
Sunday, participants also called on Washington to continue its
strategic dialogue with Beijing to contain Taiwan secessionists and
support China's peaceful reunification.
The global conference was sponsored by the National Association
for China's Peaceful Unification (NACPU) in Washington DC, and
attended by over 300 delegates from 34 organizations in 32
countries.
The conference was held months before Taiwan elects its new
leader and less than a year before the Beijing Olympic Games in
2008 - a key year in China's peaceful reunification process, NACPU
President Wu Huiqiu told Xinhua.
"We have shown the world how important China's peaceful
reunification is to overseas Chinese," Wu said, adding that the
meeting was also a platform for Chinese and US think tanks to
exchange views on the Taiwan question, and promote Sino-US
relations.
The delegates slammed the Taiwan authorities' attempt to hold a
referendum on Taiwan's membership in the United Nations, warning it
threatens cross-Straits relations and stability in the region, Wu
said.
Hua Junxiong, a delegate from New York who has been working in
the UN for over 30 years, said that the "referendum" is nothing but
a political ploy by Chen Shui-bian to win votes for his party in
the 2008 election since it is widely acknowledged that the attempt
will be definitely foiled by the UN.
In a speech at the opening ceremony on Saturday, Chinese
Ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong expressed his gratitude to
overseas Chinese for their persistent support and contribution to
China's peaceful reunification and development of cross-Straits
relations.
He reiterated China's general guidelines and policies on the
Taiwan question promulgated by the 17th National Congress of the
Communist Party of China last month, saying that Beijing would
steadfastly observe the one-China principle and promote peaceful
development of cross-Straits relations, while firmly opposing any
attempt to seek "Taiwan independence".
Ye Kedong, vice-director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the
State Council, also told the meeting that his office will safeguard
national sovereignty and territory integrity with "necessary means
and resolve" if Taiwan secessionists make any effort in any name
and form to split Taiwan from China.
NACPU, founded in 1972 in Washington, is the first of its kind;
and was followed by more than 70 similar bodies in the next three
decades.
In a related development, nine Taiwan industry groups in
Zhejiang Province issued a statement yesterday calling on Taiwan's
leaders to abandon the proposed referendum on UN membership.
"Although we left our homeland to work outside, we are always
concerned about Taiwan's future. We feel saddened and worried about
the money- and energy-wasting discussion on the referendum," said
the statement.
"Such conduct neglects people's will and is a deviation from
facts," it said.
Zhejiang Province boasts more than 6,000 Taiwan business
ventures.
(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)