CHINA: China warns Taiwan on a perceived independence move

China on Wednesday (September 27) blasted Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian for his latest plan to change the constitution of the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own. Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is researching constitutional changes to name the island "Republic of Taiwan" and redefine national territory for legislation to be introduced next month. "Opposing Taiwan's independence and opposing Taiwanese separatists seeking the independence of constitutional law has been our clear stance, and we hold this stance and will never give it up. What has been happening in Taiwan is the business of the Taiwanese people. It should be dealt with by the people of Taiwan," Li Weiyi (pron: lee way yee), spokesman for China's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference. Li said Chen's move was taken amid mounting pressure from Taiwan residents, who have staged anti-Chen protests across the island in past weeks, accusing him of corruption and demanding that he step down. China said it was open to discussions with Taiwan on making tourist visits from the mainland to Taiwan easier to arrange. "As long as certain tourist organisations in Taiwan are licensed, we will send out invitations for discussion. As for the place for discussions whether it is Beijing, Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau it doesn't matter. We are very open-minded," said Li. Taiwan is considering launching special weekend charter flights to the Chinese mainland - a move to expand current arrangements for holiday travel. Taiwan has banned direct air links with China since their split in 1949. China views Taiwan as a part of its territory and has threatened the use of force if the self-ruled island formally declares independence. But as about a million Taiwan people live in China for business or study, Taipei and Beijing exchanged landmark non-stop charter flights for the first time since then during the Lunar New Year Festival of 2005. China said a decision to let Taiwanese citizens injured in a northeast China traffic accident earlier in the month fly home directly set a good precedent for direct medical flights in the future. China also said Taiwan should join forces with the mainland to boost the agriculture trade. "Only when we are combining the two together can we advance the competitiveness of agriculture on the mainland and Taiwan, and make them beneficial to one another," said Li. In recent years, China has courted Taiwan's opposition parties such as the Kuomintang, which favour closer economic ties with the mainland -- including agricultural trade. China this year lowered tariff and quarantine barriers for Taiwan-grown fruit, vegetables and other farm goods. The two sides have been split since the Nationalists lost the Chinese civil war to the Communists and fled to the island in 1949, but Taiwan still styles itself as Republic of China and claims sovereignty over the Chinese mainland in its constitution.

ITN Source | September 27, 2006

Tags:. .lowered. .banned. .invitations. .civil. .threatened