Beijing warned Taiwan on Monday that its planned March referendum would push cross-Strait ties to the "brink of danger."

The referendum, scheduled to be held alongside "presidential" elections on March 20, would "increase tension in cross-Strait relations and push the relations step by step to the brink of danger," State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan told a gathering to mark the ninth anniversary of former president Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposal for reunification with Taiwan.

Tang said: "This kind of provocative action will only stir up antagonism and hostility."

On Friday, Chen outlined plans for a referendum he claimed was aimed at preventing the mainland from attacking Taiwan and from unilaterally changing the political status quo.

The referendum will ask voters if Taiwan should buy better anti-missile weapons if the mainland refuses to pull back missiles aimed at the island, and if Taiwan should talk to Beijing to create a peaceful and stable framework for future relations.

Tang called for negotiations to end the state of hostility under the "one China" principle, which dictates that both Taiwan and the mainland are part of one country.

Chen has rejected the "one China" precept and incensed Beijing by redefining cross-Strait ties as "one country on each side."

Tang told the gathering that the Chinese government and people was confident Taiwan would eventually return to the fold.

The state councilor added that the 23 million Taiwan compatriots are "our blood brothers" and the mainland will try all kinds of means to achieve the peaceful reunification.

Tang said that though the leader of the Taiwan authorities called the referenda "defensive" and "peaceful", this provocation, no matter how it was packaged, can only cause confrontation and animosity between the two sides, aggravate the already strained relations and push them further to the brink of danger.

"This runs completely counter to the mainstream desire of Taiwan compatriots for peace, tranquility and prosperity. Instead of a deepening of Taiwan's democracy, it is a design to mislead and manipulate the Taiwan people," Tang said, adding that it is also a serious threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the international community at large.

He said the real threat to Taiwan's security does not come from the mainland, but from the unbridled activities of Taiwan independence separatism whipped up by the Taiwan authorities.

"It is the Taiwan independence forces that threaten to cause the unraveling of the status quo in the cross-Straits relations and put peace in the Strait in danger. The Taiwan authorities have twisted the mainland's justified efforts to oppose Taiwan independence separatism and maintain stability in the Strait as an excuse to launch the referenda," Tang said.

He said the "baseless accusation" turns the truth upside down, and aims to win more sympathy and support for their separatist ambition.

He stressed that the leader of the Taiwan authorities has refused to accept the one-China principle, denied the "1992 consensus", advocated such separatist propositions as "one country on each side", pushed for incremental Taiwan independence, and even put out a timetable for Taiwan independence, thus seriously eroding the foundation for closer cross-Straits relations and posing a grave threat to peace and security in the Taiwan Straits.

Nine years ago, Comrade Jiang Zemin made an important speech entitled "Continuing to Endeavor for the Accomplishment of the Grand Cause of Reunification of the Motherland". Inheriting and building on Comrade Deng Xiaoping's thinking of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", the speech put forward an eight-point proposal on the development of cross-Straits relations and the advancement of peaceful national reunification.

"The speech is the programmatic document for the solution of the Taiwan question," Tang said.

"Over the past nine years, we have firmly and persistently implemented the basic policy of 'peaceful reunification and one country, two systems' and the eight-point proposal, and facilitated stronger cross-Straits relations through the adoption of many positive and pragmatic policies and measures," he said. "Today, exchanges between the compatriots on both sides are closer and more dynamic".

Tang pointed out that "we must continue to adhere to the basic principle of 'peaceful reunification and one country, two systems',earnestly implement the eight-point proposal on the development ofcross-Straits relations in the current period and the advancement of peaceful reunification, unite with the Taiwan compatriots in aneffort to move forward the cross-Straits relations and hasten the realization of China's reunification."

"We stand for resolving the political differences between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits in a spirit of equality and accommodation, and we are ready to push the cross-Straits dialogueand negotiations in a pragmatic and equal manner consistent with the one-China principle," he said.

He pointed out that by advocating "no pre-conditions for cross-Straits talks and negotiations", the Taiwan authorities are in fact trying to renege on the consensus reached by the two sides onthe adherence to the one-China principle, thus fundamentally negating the fact that the two sides of the Straits belong to the same country.

Their true motive is to presuppose a national split and Taiwan independence, and to erect obstacles to negotiations, he said.

As long as the two sides, in the context of the one-China principle, negotiate and reach an agreement on officially ending the state of hostility, tensions in the Taiwan Straits could be eased, and the steady growth of the cross-Straits relations could be guaranteed, he said, adding that this is the most practical andmost effective way to maintain Taiwan's security and ensure peace and stability across the Straits.

Tang pointed out that "we hope to see an early realization of the 'three links' in a comprehensive, direct and reciprocal mannerso as to break new ground for cross-Straits economic cooperation and bring greater benefits to the compatriots on both sides."

"We are positive about the establishment of an economic partnership mechanism and efforts to build closer economic relations between the two sides. We would like to hear the views and suggestions from the various circles in Taiwan in this regard",he continued.

He stressed that "we will continue to implement the policy of 'placing our hope on the Taiwan people', and work hard and persistently to promote peaceful reunification and common development by uniting with the Taiwan compatriots. We shall earnestly protect the interests of the Taiwan compatriots, addresstheir concerns as if they are our own and do everything possible to help the Taiwan compatriots with their problems."

"We treat all Taiwan compatriots equally, regardless of their provincial origins. We do not discriminate against those who are adopting a wait-and-see, a suspicious, or even a negative or antagonistic attitude toward closer cross-Straits relations, as weare ready to have contact and interaction with them for increased understanding and greater identity of views," he said.

"As long asone does not cling tenaciously to the 'Taiwan independence' position, we will exchange views with him and work for greater mutual trust through better communications," according to the state councilor.

Tensions across the Taiwan Straits have been simmering since Taiwan passed a controversial bill in November allowing referendums to be held for the first time.

In December, U.S. President George W. Bush told visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that he opposed a Taiwan referendum which might lead the island towards independence.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+Beijing: Referendum plan dangerous ( 2004-01-19) +Private attempt to claim state assets fails ( 2004-01-19) +At least 23 dead in Baghdad bombing ( 2004-01-19) +BMW drives wedge between rich and poor ( 2004-01-18) +SARS, bird flu watch stepped up ( 2004-01-18)		+Beijing: Referendum plan dangerous ( 2004-01-19) +Private attempt to claim state assets fails ( 2004-01-19) +Official highlights importance of industrial safety ( 2004-01-19) +Premier: China to borrow more overseas talents ( 2004-01-19) +3 arrested in chlorine poison investigation in North China ( 2004-01-19)