Nevertheless, using the hard earned money levied from the Taiwan people to buy foreign-made arms can not ensure an independent Taiwan no matter how many weapons there are, according to a signed commentator's article filed by Xinhua News Agency Friday.

"Relying on procurement of advanced weapons to obstruct reunification could only destroy stability and peace across the Taiwan Straits, leading to a catastrophic result to Taiwan Island and Taiwan compatriots," said the article.

In the past decade, Taiwan's local government authorities took on a spending spree in purchasing a great number of advanced weapons from western countries led by the United States, becoming the biggest weapons buyer in the world, the article went on.

In the meantime, Taiwan authorities have also kept back stepping from the "one China" policy and from improving relations across the Taiwan Straits, which arouses tensions across the straits.

Dialogues and negotiations across the Taiwan Straits have been interrupted, and the relations across the straits have been thrown into a deadlock since Lee Teng-hui who redefined in July 9,1999 the cross-Straits relations as "state-to-state or at least special state-to-state relations."

Moreover, since he took office, the new leader of Taiwan authorities has refused to acknowledge "one China" principle, or to recognize the consensus reached by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) that both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to "one China" principle, leading to no improvement and no breakthrough for the deadlock in relations across the straits, which worries the broad masses of the people living in Taiwan.

On one hand, the Taiwan authorities are craving to use a huge amount of money to buy arms from the United States and indulge themselves in arms. On the other hand, they, in an open way or from behind closed doors, stubbornly continue pursuing "Taiwan independence", resulting in further damages in the relations across the straits.

"The attempt to use imported foreign advanced weapons to equip its army and use foreign forces to confront the Chinese mainland will be firmly opposed by all Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots," said the article.

The fallacy spread by Taiwan authorities claiming that attainment of advanced weapons can enable Taiwan to be confident about opening the door to negotiations between both sides of the Taiwan Straits is just designed to deceive themselves.

The article noted that Taiwan authorities' large scale purchase of advanced weapons can also spur a splittist tendency within Taiwan Island and fan up the atmosphere of seeking an independent Taiwan.

With more foreign advanced weapons in stock, Taiwan authorities and Taiwan independence elements think they are strong enough to join other anti-China forces from western countries in intimidating China, noted the article.

"The major strategic change from being defensive to taking the offensive has demonstrates Taiwan authorities' purchase of arms are not just intended to defend the island, but also aimed at striking first against the Chinese mainland," said the article. " They even think it is necessary to direct the war to the Chinese mainland to seek Taiwan independence."

The fact that Taiwan authorities bought more advanced foreign weapons with stronger striking capabilities has shown they have walked a long distance on the road of splittism.

At present, with a turmoil in political life in Taiwan, a continued sluggish economy, closure of a great number of local enterprises in Taiwan, rising unemployment and a rising dissatisfaction with their living condition, people from all walks of life have unanimously urged Taiwan authorities to forsake the mentality of an independent Taiwan.

They have asked Taiwan's leaders to stop the political struggle, improve relations across the Straits, open direct mail, commerce, air and shipping services, and concentrate their energy on developing the economy.

However, showing disregard toward people's will, Taiwan authorities spent a hefty sum of money to buy weapons from foreign countries, further worsening the tension across the Taiwan Straits, the commentator's article commented.

"Taiwan authorities' trampling on local residents' will can only lead to instability, coupled with a downward economic decline and greater hardship for the common people on Taiwan Island," said the article.

Peace is the best weapon to stop war. Only accepting "one China " principle, resuming dialogue and negotiations across the Taiwan Straits, and ending the hostility across the Taiwan Straits can security and stability in Taiwan be achieved.

"The fact that some foreign countries, in disregard of Chinese Government's strong opposition, continue to sell different kinds of advanced weapons to Taiwan and even make wild and irresponsible commitments can only make Taiwan authorities think they have got backers and stick firmly to the dead road of Taiwan independence," said the article. "That can only heat up military race across the Taiwan Straits and bring about a serious threat to the peace of Asia and Pacific region."

While stressing the Chinese nation is a peace-loving people and Chinese will never fight against Chinese, the article also noted that it does not mean the Central Government, the Chinese people and Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will compromise or be hesitant on implementing the principle of safeguarding national sovereignty or territorial integrity.

"If Taiwan authorities dream of using foreign powers to boost themselves or even take a bold step in seeking the independence of Taiwan, they would be crushed before the Chinese people with firm determination," the article added.

(Xinhua 04/27/2001)