Dec. 11, 2001
Dear Editor,

 Facts speak louder than words. I am writing regarding Mr. William Kristol’s article on Dec. 4 Op-Ed column: “Embrace Taiwan”.

 There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. The People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. The one-China principle is a well-established fact and has been respected and accepted by the international community, including the US.

 In the three China-US joint communiques, the US specifically “recognizes the government of PRC as the sole legal government” and “acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China”. President Bush reaffirmed in Shanghai this October that the U.S. government pursues the one-China policy and adheres to the three joint communiques.

 The one-China principle is not only the foundation stone for the Chinese government’s policy on Taiwan, but also the basis for China-US relations.  History has shown time and again when the one-China principle is faithfully observed, the China-US relations develop smoothly and the cross-Straits ties improve. Otherwise, China-US relations encounter troubles, and cross-Straits ties suffer setbacks.

  Whatever changes in the domestic situation on the Taiwan island can not change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China. Recent surveys in Taiwan show that the number of people supporting the policy of “one country, two systems” is on the rise and the mainstream public opinion in the island is still in favor of improving and developing the cross-Straits ties and opposing “Taiwan independence”.

 China will keep to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", President Jiang Zemin's Eight Proposals as well as the policies for the promotion of the cross-straits economic exchange and cooperation.

  Any remarks or activities that advocate for giving up the one China policy run counter to facts and against the unstoppable historical trend of China’s reunification. They will never succeed.


                                 Xie Feng
                                 Press counselor and spokesman
                                 The Chinese Embassy