Beijing Wednesday firmly rejected Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian's defence of his "absurd theory'' that
"each side is a country,'' asserting that it is only
another way of trying to saying that "Taiwan is an
independent sovereign state,'' with the same ultimate aim of
trying to split China.
A top leader of the
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS)
said that Chen's statement is just further preaching for his
separatist "Taiwan Independence'' gambit.
In his speech to the pro-independence World
Federation of Taiwanese Association in Tokyo via
teleconferencing on August 3, Chen said that "each side
(of the Taiwan Straits) is a country'' and called for a
referendum to decide Taiwan's future.
His
remarks have drawn explosive responses.
On
Tuesday, Chen sought to defuse the speech made over the
weekend. Officials from Chen's ruling Democratic Progressive
Party said that Chen's remarks had been
"oversimplified'' and that he would not break his
promise not to change the status quo.
Although
Chen said in his inauguration address that he would not seek
Taiwan independence, change the name of Taiwan, write the
theory of two countries into the constitution nor hold a
referendum on independence for the island, his proposals are
exactly the same as the "two states" statement
concocted by his predecessor Lee Teng-hui, said the official
who asked to remain anonymous.
"This has
laid bare Chen's determination to cling to 'Taiwan
Independence','' he said.
Beijing-based
leading experts on Taiwan studies also warned that Chen's
"each side is a country'' is more "sinister'' and
"undisguised'' than the "two states'' theory.
Li Jiaquan, a senior researcher with the
Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences, said that Chen's insisting on "Taiwan
Independence'' will create tensions and sabotage peace
across the Straits and damage stability and peace in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Su Ge, deputy director of
the China Institute of International Studies, warned Chen
not to misjudge the situation and underestimate the
determination of the Chinese Government and people to bring
about reunification.
Local polls by cable
network ETTV in Taiwan showed Chen's approval rate sank to a
record low of 46 per cent after his speech.
In
Beijing, an Internet-based survey by Xinhua showed 88 per
cent of respondents felt that Beijing should throw out any
illusions they had about Chen Shui-bian after his weekend
speech.
The ARATS leader criticized
Chen for not accepting the one-China principle and still
trying to deny, distort and evade the 1992 consensus reached
by the ARATS and its Taiwan counterpart, the Straits
Exchange Foundation, which will make it difficult for the
two sides to resume negotiations.
The ARATS
leader indicated that Chen's comments exposed his "true
pro-independence stand.''
Chen's performance
over the past two years has proved his adherence to
splitting China, the official said.
China's
consistent policy is to oppose Taiwan independence and bring
about the goal of China's reunification, and this will never
change, the ARATS leader stressed.
"We
will never sit and watch a handful of Taiwan separatists
impose their separatist attempts,'' he said.
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