China expresses strong displeasure and firm opposition to the US
approval to sell an early warning radar system to Taiwan, said
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Thursday.
It was reported that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of
the US Department of Defense has approved the sale of the
ultra-high frequency early warning radar system to Taiwan.
Such a move seriously violated the principles set forth in the
three China-US joint communiqués, in particular the Aug. 17
Communiqué on arms sales between the two countries, Kong told a
regular news briefing.
It also sent a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking
"Taiwan independence" and will lead to further tension in the
situation across the Taiwan Straits and sabotage the common
interests of China and the United States, Kong stressed.
He reiterated that the Taiwan issue remained the most important
and sensitive core issue in China-US relations. "On the Taiwan
issue, which is related to China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity, we show no tolerance to any move that is harmful to
China's core interest by any outside force," he said.
China demands the United States to cancel relevant wrong
decisions so as to avoid sabotaging the peace and stability across
the Taiwan Straits and the China-US cooperation, he said.
Answering an inquiry about the US decision on March 22 to
collect fingerprints of Chinese people who apply for a US visa,
Kong said China hopes the United States will stop fingerprinting
Chinese visa applicants.
According to the US Embassy, this practice was targeted at most
visa applicants from the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, and
excluded Canada and 27 countries in Europe.
China understands the US consideration about domestic security
after the September 11 tragedy, but it is "totally unnecessary" to
fingerprint Chinese visa applicants, said Kong.
Kong said the two countries exchanged over one million people
last year, and the bilateral trade, cultural and educational
cooperation are expanding in recent years.
According to the spokesman, the United States has tightened the
visa policy for Chinese applicants in recent years, which has
already caused inconveniences for exchanges.
After several negotiations by the Chinese Foreign Ministry and
the Chinese Embassy in the United States, China "regrets" to see
that the United States continues and even strengthens the policy,
said the spokesman.
Although China has taken countermeasures against the US
fingerprinting decision, it is "open" to discussion on simplifying
procedures of, and promoting, personnel exchange between the two
countries, Kong said.
China decided on Tuesday to take countermeasures against the US
decision to fingerprint Chinese visa applicants.
US citizens with diplomatic or service passports will now have
to apply and pay fees for common visas when planning private visits
to China. At the same time, the Chinese Embassy in the United
States will hold interviews with some of the US citizens before
issuing visas.
Moreover, all US citizens visiting China will not be able to
apply for port visas, but will have instead to complete visa
applications at home.
On the third anniversary of the "April 1 Incident" when a US spy
plane collided with a Chinese military jet, the spokesman said the
United States should not dispatch any plane for reconnaissance
activities along the Chinese border and should respect China's
state sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Such a stance "remains unchanged", Kong stressed.
The incident itself was "serious" and brought "serious damage"
to China-US relations, Kong said.
In the incident, Chinese pilot Wang Wei was killed and his plane
sunk after the US spy plane made a sharp turn in violation of
normal flying rules. The spy plane then entered China's territory
and landed at a military airport in south China's Hainan
Province without permission.
The incident triggered waves of demonstrations by Chinese
students and citizens in a number of major Chinese cities three
years ago.
Turning to Afghan reconstruction, the spokesman said China will
offer US$15 million to Afghanistan this year for its
reconstruction, and will also participate in a series of
reconstruction projects in Afghanistan.
Kong said that in 2002, the Chinese government pledged a
US$150-million aid package for Afghanistan within four to five
years, and at present US$47 million has been offered to
Afghanistan.
"We will continue to offer US$15 million this year," said the
spokesman.
Kong said the Chinese side was gratified to see the Afghan
people getting on a peaceful road to rebuilding their homeland, and
would do its best to help the Afghan people to live a stable and
prosperous life.
Kong said China also participated in the infrastructure
construction of Afghanistan. The project of Kabul Republic Hospital
contracted by China has basically finished. China will also
participate in the project of rebuilding the Kandahar Hospital.
Kong said China will offer material assistance worth US$1
million for the upcoming election in Afghanistan, including tents,
photocopiers and lighting equipment.
The spokesman said currently some Chinese enterprises have set
up branches in Afghanistan to participate in the country's
reconstruction, and China will encourage more domestic companies to
open businesses in Afghanistan.
He said China will also build a school for Afghanistan and help
train Afghan diplomats. In addition, China will strengthen
cooperation with Afghanistan in local police training in the
future, he added.
On Sino-Japanese relations, the spokesman said that the Japanese
leaders should take history as a mirror and look into the future.
More importantly, the Japanese side should draw on lessons from
history, Kong added.
The Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine are a
reflection of the Japanese government's stance and attitude toward
the war that once deeply hurt the feelings of the people of China
and other Asian countries, said Kong.
China hopes the historical issue between the two countries can
be resolved effectively so as to push forward the Sino-Japanese
cooperation, Kong said.
The Chinese and Japanese people have enjoyed long-term
friendship and the two countries have a lot in common in many
issues, said Kong. Bilateral cooperation will contribute to
benefiting the two peoples and promoting peace and stability in the
region.
In regard to Diaoyu Islands issue, Kong said Diaoyu Island and
the attached islets have been a part of the Chinese territory since
ancient times and China has indisputable sovereignty over these
islands according to history and law.
China and Japan have differences on the Diaoyu Islands issue,
and China has insisted on solving it through peaceful negotiations,
Kong said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will hold talks with
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on historical issues
between the two countries during her upcoming visit to China, Kong
said.
Moving on to Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan's Asian tour, the
spokesman said the visit will further promote mutual understanding,
friendship and cooperation between China and related countries.
Kong said that Cao's visit to three Asian countries, namely
Pakistan, India and Thailand, is in line with China's principle to
build good-neighborly friendship with neighboring countries.
Kong said in Pakistan, the Pakistani president, prime minister,
defense minister and other military officials met with Cao, and in
India, the Indian prime minister met with Cao and the Indian
defense minister held talks with him.
Cao exchanged views with government and military leaders of the
visiting countries on issues concerning bilateral relations and
international and regional situations, Kong said.
Kong said Cao's visit not only promotes the bilateral ties, but
also strengthens cooperation in military and defense between China
and related countries.
Cao was quoted as saying that China, as a close neighbor of the
South Asian countries, hopes the South Asian countries would live
in harmony and realize common development and prosperity, and China
will continue to support the Indian-Pakistani peace process and
play a constructive role in promoting peace and cooperation in the
South Asian region.
Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and
state councilor, paid an official goodwill visit to Pakistan, India
from March 22 to April 1. Cao started visiting Thailand
Thursday.
In another development, the spokesman said with a sustained,
growing economy, China is ready to cooperate with the international
community, particularly members of the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC) more effectively on the basis of mutual
benefit and Saudi Arabia, as a major oil producing nation, is
playing a vital role in the OPEC.
Kong said Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali
Bin Ibrahim Al-nuaimi will pay a goodwill visit to China from April
1 to 3 as guest of the State Development and Reform Commission
(SDRC).
Al-nuaimi is expected to exchange views with the SDRC leading
officials on bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, and meet
with Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan during his stay in Beijing,
Kong said.
Also at yesterday's briefing, Kong announced Netherlands Prime
Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will pay a two-day working visit to
China from April 6.
(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, April 2,
2004)