The United States opposes any
referendum designed to change Taiwan's status or move it towards independence,
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Monday.
Boucher was commenting on Chen Shui-bian's latest proposal to hold a
"defensive referendum" in March 2004 in Taiwan.
"We would be opposed to any referenda that would change Taiwan's status or
move towards independence," Boucher said at the State Department's regular news
briefing.
"We also urge both sides to refrain from actions or statements that increase
tensions or make dialogue more difficult to achieve," Boucher said.
He reaffirmed that "the United States has always held and again reiterates
that cross-strait dialogue is essential to peace and stability in the Taiwan
Strait area."
Boucher added that the United States takes it "very seriously" that Chen
pledged "not to declare independence, not to change the name of Taiwan's
government and not to add the 'state-to-state' theory to the constitution, and
not to promote a referendum to change the status quo on independence or
unification" in his inaugural address in 2000.
** Common interests come first, FM
says
China and the United States have extensive common interests as well as some
disputes, but the common interests enjoy the top priority, said Chinese Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing in a interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel which
was published on Monday.
According to information from the Foreign Ministry Tuesday, Li said good
China-US relations comply with the fundamental interests of the two nations and
benefit peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the
world at large.
Li said China holds that Sino-US relations should be built on the principles
specified in the three China-US joint communiques.
Only by following the principles, especially the principles of mutual respect
of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal
affairs and mutual benefit, and only by properly handling the Taiwan question,
can China-US relations grow healthily and steadily, Li said.
On the issue of anti-terrorism, Li said international terrorism is one of the
major threats to the whole world and China has always actively participated in
the international co-operation in fighting against it.
Statements saying that China persecutes minority groups in the country,
including the Uygur ethnic group, by using anti-terrorism as an excuse are
totally groundless and irresponsible, Li said.
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has made obvious social and economic
progress, and China's central governmental policies have received the support of
all minorities including Xinjiang Uygur people, Li said.
Li emphasized that no sovereign country will sit idly by with separatist
activities, and no responsible government could ignore the danger surrounding
its people.
China's fight against the "East Turkistan" terrorist force is to maintain
Xinjiang's regional peace and stability, and the security of local citizens.
Li said he hoped those who have misunderstandings on the issue could come to
China and see the country for themselves so as to avoid being misled by people
with dubious motives.
In the interview with Der Spiegel held last Wednesday, Li said that the only
correct solution to the Korean nuclear issue is to continue the peace talk
process.
Li said the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular and the security
concerns of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are two
indispensable key factors for the peaceful solution to Korean nuclear issue.
Li urged concerned parties to boost mutual trust and increase consensus to
achieve a final peaceful solution to the issue through dialogue.
It serves the fundamental interests of concerned parties and also reflects a
prevailing will within the international arena, Li stressed.
Li said a peaceful resolution to the Korean nuclear issue might take time,
patience and wisdom and involve a difficult process, but the efforts were
worthwhile.
He warned that if upheaval occurred on the Peninsula, it could be disastrous
for both the region and world.
