Extracts. US Arms Sales to Taiwan Escalate Cross-Straits Tension: Experts Chinese military and foreign affairs experts warned Thursday the US's arms sales to Taiwan will not only severely undermine the Sino-US relations, add to the risks of military collisions across the Taiwan Straits, but also probably lead to a "direct military confrontation" between China and the United States. The US government announced Wednesday that it will sell advanced weapons and equipment worth billions of US dollars to Taiwan, including four Kidd-class destroyers, eight diesel-powered submarines, and 12 P-3C Orion submarine-hunting aircrafts. China on Wednesday strongly protested against this provocative move and made solemn representations with the US government. Lin Zhiyuan, an expert at China's Military Academy of Sciences, said that this is the biggest batch of arms sales by the US since 1992, when it sold 150 F-16 fighters to Taiwan. Lin held that the US arms sales are aimed at trying to make up for the weakness of the Taiwan armed forces and helping harden Taiwan's stand on refusal of reunification by force. Lin said that the direct objective of the arms sales is to maintain a relative balance of military strength across the Straits, and try to check the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Intrinsically, however, the expert said, the US always regards Taiwan as an "unsinkable aircraft carrier", intending to use Taiwan to obstruct China's reunification and to restrain China, in an attempt to make the reunification of China impossible. The US has always trumpeted that it is "protecting Taiwan', but its real intention is to protect its own strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and to serve its strategic objective of global hegemonism, Lin stressed. Professor Liu Wenzong, an expert on international law at the Foreign Affairs College here, pointed out that the US action, which clearly interferes in China's internal affairs and obstructs China's reunification efforts, has once again seriously violated both international law and norms governing international relations. He indicated that all the U.S. governments including the Bush administration have reiterated time and again their commitment to the three Sino-US joint communiques. In the August 17 Communique, the U.S. government made a clear commitment to the Chinese side that "it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends to reduce gradually its sales of arms to Taiwan, leading over a period of time to a final resolution". He held that the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques are international documents of a treaty nature between the two countries. Although the U.S. government has made oral promises to abide by the three communiques, it virtually denies them and does not implement them just by often using the Taiwan Relations Act. Liu said that, in accordance with the stipulation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations of 1969, the three documents, issued as "joint communiques", undoubtedly enjoy the nature of treaties. What's more, it is one of the basic principles of international law that "treaties must be observed". Therefore, no country should violate international law and treaties under the excuse of its internal law provisions. He stressed that all American traditional textbooks on international law emphasize the importance of observing international treaty obligations. It is also a general rule in various international documents and judicial practices that internal laws and stipulations must never override international laws. "The U.S. government, therefore, cannot justify its attempt to deny the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques under the pretext of the Taiwan Relations Act from either the legislative or the moral perspective," he said. Professor Wu Xinbo of the American Studies Center of Shanghai's Fudan University, said in a telephone interview that the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is not only a military issue but a serious political one. The arms sales, in essence, give support to the "Taiwan Independence". Here the U.S.'s sinister motive is obvious, the scholar noted. Wu said that he believed that the Taiwan issue could be solved peacefully through political means. However, the U.S., by selling Taiwan a large number of advanced weapons, virtually militarizes the issue. This move will oblige the mainland to consider resorting to " other than ordinary means" to solve the Taiwan issue, Wu warned. Wu said that some "Taiwan Independence" advocates believe that, armed with American weapons, they can rival the mainland militarily. Placing their hopes on the U.S., they might be induced by the arms sales to take extreme actions against the mainland. The experts advised the U.S. to stop selling weapons to Taiwan, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs. Otherwise, "it will not only severely undermine the Sino-U.S relations, add to the risks of military collisions across the Taiwan Straits, but lead to a direct military confrontation between China and America, " they agreed. The U.S. will end up with its own interests harmed, not to mention "protecting" Taiwan, and foreign weapons cannot help build up a "Taiwan Independence force", the experts state. **** People's Daily Calls US Arms Sales "Despicable Breach of Faith" The recent US decision to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan constitutes a "despicable breach of faith in international relations" and will only end up hurting the United States' own interest, a leading Chinese newspaper said Thursday. The People's Daily said in a signed commentary that Washington's move also represents flagrant trampling on the three joint communiques reached between China and the United States, to which the US government has repeatedly committed itself, a barefaced provocation against China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and outrageous interference in China's internal affairs. The paper noted that the US government reiterated in the communique signed on August 17, 1982, that "it does not seek to carry out a long-term policy of arms sales to Taiwan, that its arms sales to Taiwan will not exceed, either in qualitative or in quantitative terms, the level of those supplied in recent years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, and that it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution." However, the arms the US government approved on Monday for sale to Taiwan not only exceed previous deliveries in terms of their performance, but are also the largest arms deal between the two sides in nearly a decade. "The US promise, written in black and white, has become nothing but empty words and a bunch of lies. When the United States has gone back on its solemn promise, where on earth is its credibility as a big power?" the paper asked. Washington's decision to sell sophisticated weapons to Taiwan will only serve to prop up the pro-Taiwan independence forces in their bid to split China, poison the atmosphere across the Taiwan Straits, intensify cross-strait tension and eventually endanger peace, stability and security in the Asia and Pacific region and the world at large, the paper added. The paper pointed out that Sino-US relations have come to a sensitive and complicated juncture and that the Taiwan question has always been the most important and sensitive core issue. At such a juncture, some people in Washington intend to play the Taiwan card to obstruct China's reunification and slow down the process of reinvigorating the Chinese nation. If some policy makers in Washington, clinging to their Cold War mentality, persist in their willful act, they will not only arouse utmost indignation among the Chinese people, but also end up extremely unpopular, the paper said, citing the result of a recent poll conducted by the American Broadcasting Company and The Washington Post. The survey indicated that 67 percent of those polled were explicitly opposed to the arms sales and the figure jumped to 75 percent when the respondents learned that such sales would "seriously harm US-China ties." Of course, the paper said in conclusion, a few pieces of foreign arms could neither save the forces for Taiwan's independence, nor could they stop the Chinese people in their steady pursuit of national reunification. **** US Urged to Stop Interfering in China's Internal Affairs Using Taiwan Issue China Thursday asked the United States to stick to the "one China" policy and the three Sino-US joint communiques, correct its mistakes and stop interfering in China's internal affairs by taking advantage of the Taiwan issue. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue made the demand at a press conference, when commenting on US President George W. Bush 's remarks on US arms sales to Taiwan. In an interview with the American Broadcasting Corporation Tuesday, Bush said the US would do "whatever it took to help Taiwan defend theirself." Bush also said the US would not have the annual review of arms sales to Taiwan but "will meet on an as needed basis". Zhang noted, "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China and not a 'protectorate' of any other nation. This is a fact known to the entire international community. The United States has made solemn commitments to the Chinese government and people on the Taiwan issue, promising to stick to the 'one China' policy and abide by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques as well as other commitments." She pointed out that the U.S. side is going even further on a dangerous road by making such erroneous remarks right after its announcement of selling a large quantity of advanced weaponry to Taiwan. "We are deeply concerned about this," she said. The wrong words and deeds of the U.S side constitute a flagrant violation of the principles of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and its own commitments and an open provocation to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "It will further the arrogance of pro-Taiwan independence forces to split China, harm peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and further damage Sino-U.S. relations," she said. "The Chinese government and people are indignant at and firmly opposed to this." The spokeswoman pointed out that the Taiwan issue has always been a core issue of utmost importance and sensitiveness in Sino-US relations. No one should misjudge the firm resolution and determination of the Chinese people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor can anyone stop the Chinese people in their endeavor for reunification of the motherland, she said. **** Chinese Defense Minister Holds Talks with Surinam Counterpart Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian said that China does not allow its sovereignty to be infringed upon and its territorial integrity to be harmed on the Taiwan issue. Chi, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, made the remarks in Beijing on April 26 in talks with Surinam Defense Minister Ronald Richenel Assen. Chi said China and Surinam are two friendly countries and the two peoples enjoy traditional friendship. He said the bilateral ties have been progressing well since the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago. China attaches great importance to developing relations with Surinam and is willing to work with Surinam to further the friendly cooperation on a stable and healthy track in the new century, Chi said. On the Taiwan issue, Chi said there is only one China in the world, adding that the Chinese government still adheres to the fundamental principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight points proposed by President Jiang Zemin to solve the Taiwan issue. He said the Chinese government has both the sincerity to pursue a peaceful reunification and the determination and necessary preparation to prevent the so-called "Taiwan independence" and any separatist activities. Chi said he appreciates Surinam government's adherence to the one-China policy. He also briefed the guest on China's foreign policy, defense policy, and domestic situation. Assen said his country attaches great importance to its relations with China and views China as one of its best friends. Assen said Surinam will continue to stick to the one-China policy. He also thanked China for its support. Assen arrived in the Chinese capital Wednesday on an official goodwill visit at the invitation of Chi. **** Macao Newspapers Condemn US Arms Sales to Taiwan Leading Macao <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/macau.html> -based newspapers strongly criticized the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> Thursday for its approval of arms sales to Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> . Macao Daily News, the most influential newspaper in the special administrative region, said that the wrong decision made by the United States constitutes a flagrant violation of the three Sino-US joint communiques, especially the one singed on August 17, 1982, and an open provocation to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States is sending wrong signals to Taiwan and whet the ambitions of Taiwan's independence forces by selling increasingly advanced and larger amounts of weaponry to Taiwan, the paper said. Tai Chung Pou carried an editorial titled US Arms Sales to Taiwan to Harm Peaceful Reunification Across the Taiwan Straits. The purpose of the United States is to aggravate the tense situation across the Taiwan Straits, destroy peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and deliberately hinder China's reunification process, it noted. Jornal Va Kio pointed out that the largest beneficiary from the arms sales will be US arms dealers and just a small number of people in Taiwan, instead of the "democracy" and regional safety on the island. **** US Plane Spying Act of Hegemonism: Nepali Scholar A Nepal <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/nepal.html> i scholar flayed the intrusion of a US spy plane into China's air space and hitting down of a Chinese fighter plane as an act of hegemonism. "The repeated acts of provocation by the US spy planes amply demonstrate the US intention of expanding its hegemony on the one hand and China's assertion of her territorial integrity on the other", Madan Regmi, chairman of the China Study Center of Nepal, told Xinhua Thursday. In the latest incident of such spy flights on April 1, the American spy plane EP-3E knocked down a Chinese fighter plane above the Chinese exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea and landed in Hainan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/hainan.html> province of China without any permission. The clash led to the death of Chinese pilot Wang Wei. Regmi said that after the demise of the Soviet Union, which paved the way for the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> to become the sole superpower in the world, the hawks of the United States bent upon containing China. "On the one hand, they are striving to make the US the role international policeman acceptable to every nation; on the other, they have targeted all the nations opposed to the US hegemony, which is being unleashed either in the pretext of human rights or in the name of American security," said Regmi. "By hugging the Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> ese separatists, who are rejected by most Taiwanese people, the United States is acting in contravention of the One China policy which Washington had promised in three Sino-US joint commuinques, while by arming Taiwan, it is constantly interfering in the internal affairs of China," Regmi continued. Regmi noted that after the US spy plane hit down the Chinese fighter plane, the United States is even trying to argue that such flights are its legitimate right. "By evincing such an arrogance and extra-territorial authority, the United States is more isolated than ever," Regmi said. Regmi pointed out that resuming spying flights is a prelude to provoking China's sovereignty and will wreck the Sino-American relations. "This will also jeopardize the mission of maintaining world peace, which cannot be ensured without Sino-American joint efforts and such efforts are only possible in an atmosphere of mutual trust," he said. Regmi further slashed the US tendency of displaying its military muscle all over the world, notably in the Gulf War and in the Balkan region. "Such a tendency has made the United States very unpopular in the world," he concluded. **** China Will Always Be Africa's "Good Friend": Chinese Leader A senior Chinese leader said Thursday in Rabat that China will always be a "good friend" of Africa, and will never forget its old friends in Africa. Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during a meeting with Moroccan King Mohammed VI in Fes, an ancient city about 190 kilometers to the west of Rabat. Li is on a three-day official goodwill visit to Morocco. Li told the King that China will always take the friendship of African people by heart, as they in the past sympathized with and supported China on many occasions. In particular, Li said, China highly appreciates the support from African nations on the human rights issue over the past few years. "We will follow Comrade Deng Xiaoping's instruction that we should never forget that we belong to the third world, and never forget all poor friends in the third world," Li stressed. He said that it is always a basic point of China's foreign policy to consolidate and develop China-Africa friendly and cooperative relations. China supports African country's efforts to safeguard their national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Li said. China respects African nations' choice of their political systems and development models, and hopes they will resolve their disputes through peaceful negotiations, he added. In addition, China calls on the international community to take concrete steps to help the stability and development of African countries, so as to narrow the gap between Africa and other parts of the world. Li stressed that China highly appreciates and is grateful to Morocco for its firm support on China concerning issues of human rights and Taiwan. The two countries established full diplomatic relations in 1958. King Mohammed VI said Morocco and China have good political relations and are highly complementary in trade and economic areas. He believes that the friendly relations between the two countries will grow steadily with the joint efforts of the two sides. The king also spoke highly of China's Africa policy, and said that African countries are thankful for China's support to their just struggle. **** China's CPPCC Chairman Li Ruihuan Arrives in Morocco Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, arrived in Rabat Wednesday for a three-day official goodwill visit to Morocco. Li said in a short speech at the airport to Moroccan television that his visit is aimed at increasing mutual understanding, common ground, friendship and cooperation between China and Morocco. During his visit, Li is expected to meet with leaders of Morocco and exchange views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues. Li said that he believes his visit will play an active role in promoting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. At the airport, Li was greeted by Moroccan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Najib Zerouali, Minister in charge of Parliament Relations Mohamed Bouzoubaa, Minister of Economic Forecast and Planning Abdelhamid Aouad and Chinese Ambassador to Morocco Xiong Zhanqi. He also inspected the guards of honor of Morocco. China and Morocco established full diplomatic relations in November 1958. Over the past 40-plus years of relationship, top leaders of the two countries have exchanged visits frequently. Cooperation between them has expanded smoothly. "We are satisfied with the development of our relations," Li said. "We hope that the friendly relations between our two countries will grow to a higher stage in the new century." **** Seven Falun Gong Activists Released After Completing Jail Term in Singapore Seven Falun Gong activists who were jailed for obstruction to police duty during an illegal assembly were released from Singapore prison on completion of their four-week jail term Wednesday. They were sentenced on March 29 for preventing policemen from seizing their placards during the illegal assembly at Macritchie Reservoir on December 31, 2000. Among them are three permanent residents holding passports of China and three Chinese nationals on student passes. They were handed over to the Singapore Immigration and Registration that will decided on their stay in Singapore, but no information on its final decision is available. In the same case, eight others were also convicted of participating in illegal assembly and each of them was sentenced to a fine of 1000 Singapore dollars (about 570 US dollars). **** Pride and Prejudice "Washington Post" recently published the article titled "Jiang Zemin <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/people/jiangzemin.shtml> 's Puzzle" by Fred Hiatt, editor of the Washington Post's editorial page. On March 23, he was received by President Jiang Zemin in Beijing <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html> . Regrettably, it can be clearly seen from his article that Mr. Hiatt failed to understand President Jiang's talks with sincerity and goodwill, instead, with pride and prejudice he misinterpreted the messages conveyed in the talks of the Chinese leader. >From a number of issues listed in the article, it can be seen that Fred Hiatt's interest in China is no more than such issues as so-called human right, the Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> question and "Falun Gong". In his article, Hiatt mentioned with the "flavor of human feeling" a Chinese residing in the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> who was detained in China. The fact was that the woman was lawfully detrained by the Chinese judicial institution for being suspected of engaging in spy activities. This legitimate action taken by China to protect its national security was unreasonably alleged by Hiatt as a "case" of "China's trampling on the human right". This is really incomprehensible! As regards the Taiwan issue, it is universally acknowledged that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory. When and how the Chinese government will reunify Taiwan is purely China's internal affair, which naturally allows of no country to make irresponsible remarks. Hiatt's act of whitewashing the United States as a "moral gentleman" who pursues not any interest is no different from the saying "plugging one's ears while stealing a bell". As everyone knows that the United States always regards Taiwan as "an unsinkable aircraft carrier"! Then comes the issue of Falun Gong-a recent "favorite topic" about China for American media. As everyone knows, "Falun Gong" confused the general public and killed human lives in cold blood in China. It was exactly the same as the US David cult. While outlawing the heretic cult, the Chinese government has tried to change through education and rescue the obsessed followers, Hiatt, turning a blind eye to this fact, attacked China for no reason. Could it be that in Mr Hiaatt's mind the only proper way for the Chinese government was to act as the American authorities did in dealing with the David cult by sending out tanks and helicopters ? It is clear from what is mentioned above that Hiatt did not observe and understand China with an attitude of equality and respect. Rather he tried to prove an already distorted China by American-style pride and prejudice. When a guest who came from afar, President Jiang euphemistically expressed to him China's dissatisfaction with US intervention in others' internal affairs, saying this was incomprehensible, which Hiatt superficially understood as "Jiang Zemin's puzzle". It is regretted that Hiatt, failing to understand the profound meaning involved therein, came to the conclusion that "President Jiang completely rejected and even seemed not to comprehend the concept of value which constitutes the foundation of US foreign policy". As a matter of fact, it is exactly Hiatt that completely rejects and even totally not understands the concept of value that constitutes the foundation China's national policy and the characteristics of the nation. In fact, the crux of the matter lies in whether Hiatt really wants to understand. It should be noted that there is no lack of such journalists as Hiatt in the United States who hold deep-rooted prejudice against China. In the evolution of Chinese-US relations and people-to-people exchanges, news media plays an extremely important part and its guiding role cannot be belittled. Presently, the Chinese people's understanding of the United States can be regarded as quite comprehensive and objective, this is attributed to the large amount of comprehensive and all-directional reports on the United States provided by Chinese media. Whereas the American people's impression of China is rather dim, twisted and even completely wrong, because US media reports on China are often based on a narrow field of vision and on preconceived notions. Due to ideology, a mindset of pride and other factors, Some US journalists often look upon China through colored glasses. As a result, it is unavoidable that China in the eyes of the American people, is often changed not only in color, but also in form. With regard to such a result, certain US journalists cannot shirk their responsibility. It is hoped that when Mr Hiatt comes to China next time, he can take off his colored spectacles, and tell the American people about China as it stands. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
