Taiwan-related provisions opposed
( 2002-11-18 11:45 ) (1 )

China resolutely objects to the Taiwan-related provisions in the US defence authorization bill for fiscal year 2003, which wantonly interfere in China's internal affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Saturday in Beijing.

Spokesman Kong Quan made the remark when asked to comment on the defence authorization bill just passed by the US Congress. The provisions relating to Taiwan request the US president to propose reports to Congress on the feasibility of US-Taiwan joint military programmes.

China has on many occasions made solemn representations to the United States on the provisions, and the US administration has repeatedly enunciated its objection to the provisions, Kong said.

Kong said China has taken note of the weakening of the provisions in the passage by the Congress. However, he said, the current text still constitutes a violation of the principles set forth in the three Sino-US joint communiques and the one-China policy which the US side has reiterated time and again, as well as gross interference in China's internal affairs.

"We therefore express our resolute opposition," Kong said.

Meanwhile when asked to comment on the deteriorating Israel-Palestine situation and the regional tension, Kong said that China is deeply concerned and worried about the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

China called on both sides to be restrained, avoid actions that might lead to a further deterioration of the conflict, co-operate with the international community in the current peace efforts and resume peace talks as soon as possible, he said.

Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wang Shijie also urged Israel to refrain from abusing military forces against the Palestinians and take effective measures to ease the humanitarian crisis in Palestinian areas during his meeting in Tel Aviv on Thursday with Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.

The Chinese envoy concluded his first diplomat mediation to the region, which has also brought him to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine.