-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! Tuesday, November 30 6:30 PM SGT China presses reunification with Taiwan, pledges accelerated reforms SINGAPORE, Nov 30 (AFP) - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday Beijing wanted peaceful reunification with Taiwan but would also never renounce using force to bring the island back to the mainland. "I just want to re-emphasize and reiterate that it is our hope that the country can be reunified by peaceful means, but we will never undertake to give up the use of force," Zhu said during an open forum after delivering his address at a lecture. "The overwhelming majority of the countries in the world that have relations with the People's Republic of China -- they all adhere to the 'one China' policy. There is no hope, no ground for two states theory," he said. His remarks come amid reports in Taiwan that China is building a missile base in Fujian province, directly opposite Taiwan, and that Beijing had deployed nearly 100 of its newest short-range missiles targeting Taiwan. The question from the forum arose following his remarks pledging China's commitment to accelerating reforms and opening up its markets as a responsible member of the world community. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan, which split from the mainland at the end of a civil war in 1949. Asked if China would use its position in the World Trade Organization to resolve cross-strait problems, Zhu rejected the idea. "One thing is for certain: That if mainland China, the People's Republic of China will become a member of the WTO ahead of Chinese-Taipei then we will not allow people to use the WTO as a forum to create two Chinas," he said. The United States and China reached a deal on November 15 paving the way for China's entry into the WTO. Top US officials have said in Washington that the United States has also reached an agreement with Taiwan on its membership of the WTO. China, which is not yet a WTO member, is attending the WTO ministerial meetings in Seattle as an observer. At the lecture, Zhu spoke about China's efforts to accelerate reforms, as he acknowledged "insufficient effective demand, increasingly conspicuous inadequacy in the economic structure and greater pressure of unemployment" as China's biggest problems. To address these problems, China would expand domestic demand and boost economic growth through the issue of long-term development treasury bonds and by channeling residents' savings into development funds for infrastructure and upgrading of enterprises. Beijing will pursue its reform of state-owned enterprises, rely heavily on scientific and technological innovation and progress, and implement a strategy to fully develop the vast and resource-rich areas of western China, he said. He reiterated China's non-belligerent stance in the region, saying it was committed to achieving regional peace and stability. "China faithfully observes the political consensus reached with ASEAN and stands ready to continue to safeguard the healthy atmosphere and momentum of dialogue and cooperation," he said. Zhu arrived in Singapore Monday from the summit of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where he bolstered China's role as a key political ally committed to market reforms despite territorial disputes with its smaller neighbors. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
