China opposes US lifting of Taiwan contact ban
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-30 05:52
Beijing said yesterday that it strongly opposes US moves to lift decades-old
restrictions on contact between American and Taiwan officials, saying it runs
counter to the one-China principle.
The US House of Representatives approved the measure on Wednesday but it has
not yet been considered by the Senate.
"China has always resolutely opposed any form of official contact between US
and Taiwan authorities," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news
conference.
She called the resolution a "serious violation of the fundamental principles
of Sino-US relations" and said it ran contrary to the commitment to the
one-China policy the United States has affirmed many times.
US restrictions that prevent high-ranking American military officers from
travelling to Taiwan have been in force since 1979, when it established
diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Also prohibited are meetings between US and Taiwan civilian officials in
certain government buildings, including the White House.
The House approved the measure in an amendment to a funding bill for the
State Department; and the Senate could debate the issue later this summer.
In another development, China yesterday expressed appreciation to US Deputy
Secretary of State Robert Zoellick for his "contribution to the promotion of
China-US ties."
Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo extolled Zoellick's efforts during a phone
conversation with him on Wednesday night, according to a statement from the
Foreign Ministry yesterday.
Zoellick resigned on June 15 to take up a position with Goldman Sachs.
China Daily - Agencies
(China Daily 06/30/2006 page1)
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