China urged the Japanese government yesterday to observe its
commitment to the Taiwan issue, warning that a possible visit by
former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui to Japan could further raise
tensions between Beijing and Tokyo.
It has been reported that Lee plans to visit Japan in April or
May. "We hope Japan would look at Sino-Japanese relations from an
overall perspective, and properly handle this issue according to
the principles of the three Sino-Japanese political documents," the
Foreign Ministry's
spokesperson Kong Quan said.
"If you look at his past, you know him now; if you look at him
now, you know what he'll be like in the future," Kong said of Lee
at a regular press conference.
He said: "Japan is crystal clear what sort of man he is and
should deny him a visa under any conditions. Otherwise, Japan would
be providing a speaking platform for Taiwan separatists."
Kong also said that Japan's proposal to expand military
cooperation with the US in the Taiwan Straits might jeopardize
regional security.
Military cooperation between Japan and the US should be carried
out within bilateral confines, he said, and should avoid
complicating issues relating to regional security and
stability.
According to Kong, China's top negotiator Wu
Dawei met his US counterpart Christopher Hill yesterday
afternoon in Beijing and once again called on all the involved
parties to make joint efforts to resume the six-party talks on the
Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.
During the talks, Wu, also vice foreign minister, reiterated
China's longstanding position on the nuclear issue, which is the
adherence to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and a peaceful
solution through dialogue.
"Under the current complicated situation, all parties must show
goodwill and sincerity to push forward development," Kong said.
Hill was in Beijing for several hours to discuss ways to push
talks forward after stopovers in Seoul and Tokyo.?
"We look forward to seeing the talks move on in this difficult
stage," Hill said upon arrival at the Beijing airport.
The fifth
round of talks concluded without an agreement on November 11 in
Beijing.
Turning to the Iranian nuclear issue, Kong said China hopes that
all parties concerned can maintain restraint, noting that solving
the issue through talks is in everyone's interests.
He added China hopes Iran will show some positive gestures to
build mutual trust so as to resume negotiations with the three EU
nations, namely the UK, Germany and France.
Iran on Tuesday removed seals placed by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) from its Natanz nuclear plant, which will
allow it to resume sensitive nuclear research.
The US and the EU have warned that they are likely to ask the UN
Security Council, which can impose economic sanctions, to take up
the matter.
Commenting on Indian Oil Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar's ongoing
visit, Kong said it has been successful so far, and China hopes to
develop energy cooperation with India based on an equal, friendly
and mutually beneficial basis.
In another development, Kong said China is deeply concerned over
Mongolia's political changes and hopes the country is able to
maintain political stability.
"The issues are, in the first place, Mongolia's internal
affairs," he said, adding that China hopes bilateral cooperation
will move forward in a healthy and steady way.
Mongolia's biggest political party on Wednesday announced it had
quit the coalition government. In a statement, the Mongolian
People's Revolution Party (MPRP) said it made the decision
following internal conflicts within the coalition.
The MPRP said the internal conflicts had weakened the ability of
the government to run the country.
The MPRP, which has 38 of the 76 seats in the Grand Hural,
Mongolia's parliament, said it hoped to form its own government
with other parties.
The MPRP has also demanded Prime Minister Tsakhiagiin
Elbegdorj's resignation.
Also at yesterday's briefing, Kong said Greek Prime Minister
Konstantinos Karamanlis will visit from January 19 to 22 at the
invitation of Premier Wen
Jiabao.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, CRI.com January 13,
2006)