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China wants peace with Taiwan
15/10/2007 12:37 - (SA)
Beijing - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday called for a peace agreement with Taiwan in a keynote speech at a party congress here, while insisting independence for the island would never be tolerated.
"We would like to make a solemn appeal," Hu said at the opening of the ruling Communist Party's five-yearly Congress.
"On the basis of the one-China principle, let us discuss a formal end to the state of hostility between the two sides, reach a peace agreement, construct a framework for peaceful development of cross-strait relations and thus usher in a new phase of peaceful development."
His speech did not carry direct references to using force in bringing about Taiwan's reunification with the mainland, as China has done in the past.
In 2005, China's parliament passed an anti-secession law which provided Beijing with the legal framework for retaking the island by force.
However, in an apparent reference to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's plan to hold a referendum on seeking UN membership under the name Taiwan, Hu warned that "independence forces" were seriously jeopardising cross-strait relations.
"China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division, and any matter in this regard must be decided by the entire Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots," he said.
"China will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means."
Strong signal
Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. The island has since ruled itself independently of China.
Tensions have risen across the Taiwan Strait recently amid pro-independence rhetoric by Chen, who last month failed in the island's latest bid to join the United Nations.
Chen warned in a national address last week that China's military build-up was threatening world peace, and urged it to halt military exercises targeting the island.
"With China's rapid rise and relentless military build-up, the 'China threat' is no longer confined to confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. In fact, it has already seriously impacted world peace," he said.
During an Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney last month, Hu warned US President George W Bush that Taiwan's referendum plan had propelled the cross-strait situation into a "possibly dangerous period".
On Monday, Hu also appeared to reach out to those in Taiwan who oppose Chen, promising policies beneficial to the island and which would protect the huge investments on the Chinese mainland by Taiwan enterprises.
He also called for a resumption of direct trade, travel and mail links between the two sides.
Hu recently elevated General Chen Bingde, a former commander of eastern China military forces that are seen as crucial to a conflict with Taiwan, as military chief in a move that experts said was meant to send a strong signal to the separatist-minded Chen.
- AFP
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