The Chinese mainland will not involve itself in the election of
the Taiwan region, and is not concerned about the election result,
said Zhang Mingqing, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of
the State Council, Wednesday.
Zhang said at a regular press conference that "What we care
about is the stance of future Taiwanese leaders on cross-Straits
relations and the reunification of the country."
Zhang said he will not interfere with or comment on the stand of
Taiwanese business people on the mainland in the upcoming
election.
If Taiwanese entrepreneurs on the mainland wish to set up
supportive organizations for certain candidate, they have to abide
by mainland regulations on non-governmental organizations, he
said.
Applications for such organizations have been proposed, added
Zhang.
He stressed, however, the mainland will not permit or offer
convenience for any "Taiwan independence" separatist activities on
the mainland.
Zhang said that the assertion by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian
that he would establish a so-called framework for cross-Straits
peace and stability was deceitful.
"On the one hand, Chen Shui-bian is bent on having his own way
and pursuing a referendum that would provoke confrontation between
peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, sabotage cross-Straits
relations and endanger peace in the Taiwan Straits," he said.
"On the other hand, he has professed he would set up a so-called
framework for cross-Straits peace and stability. We think Chen
Shui-bian's words are deceitful," Zhang said.
Zhang said that in the more than three years since he took
office, Chen Shui-bian had refused to accept the "one-China"
principle.
Zhang called on compatriots in Taiwan and the international
community to see through the deceit of Chen Shui-bian and the
danger of activities promoting "Taiwan independence".
In response to Chen's recent promise to allow Taiwan businessmen
in all parts of the mainland to return to the island through the
Jinmen-Xiamen air route, Zhang said the statement was made out of a
"well known motive".
Chen asserted that the residents of the island and Penhu Lieh
Tao who hold "passports" are allowed to go to mainland, which in
fact is a practice of "one country on each side", another version
of "Taiwan independence", Zhang said.
The mainland has long been making efforts to promote "three
direct links" across the Taiwan Straits and Chen's intentional
delay is against Taiwan businessmen's long-time request for free
travel across the Straits, said Zhang.
"The realization of the 'three direct links' is to break new
ground for cross-Straits economic cooperation and bring greater
benefits to the compatriots on both sides, and any policy blocking
such exchanges and cooperation will finally harm Taiwan people, as
well as its economic competitiveness," said Zhang.
(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)