Both overseas and domestic Chinese made statements or speeches
on Tuesday denouncing Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's scrapping of a
body dedicated to national unification.
They pointed out that Chen's decision to end the existence of
the "National Unification Council" (NUC) and the application of the
"National Unification Guidelines" ran counter to the tide of
history and impaired the fundamental interests of the Taiwan
compatriots.
The European Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of
China said in a statement that Chen's move posed a serious threat
to the one-China principle widely accepted by the international
community.
The group said Chen's stance not only destroyed the good
momentum of the peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits
relations since last year but also damaged the fundamental
interests of the Taiwan compatriots.
The European Federation of Chinese Organizations said that Chen
Shui-bian was putting the Taiwan people's interests and
cross-Straits peace in jeopardy by adopting a more extreme
secessionist path to "Taiwan independence." His latest comments
would surely spark a crisis in the Taiwan Straits and hurt peace
and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Greek Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of
China said Chen had abandoned his former promises on cross-Straits
relations and taken a dangerous step toward "Taiwan
independence."
The group described Chen's comments as provocative. .
The French Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of
China said Chen's stance had been greeted with condemnation from
all Chinese including the Taiwan compatriots.? International
opinion was very much against him and his efforts would end in
failure.
The Japanese Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of
China said Chen was attempting to hide his failures at the expense
of the Taiwan people's security and well being. He was simply
getting himself into greater difficulties.
The Cote d'Ivoire Association for Promoting Peaceful
Reunification of China commented that no matter what Chen said on
promoting "Taiwan independence" he could never change the fact that
historically Taiwan had been part of China since ancient times nor
the fact that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits were
descended from the same ancestors.
It added that Chen's road toward "Taiwan independence" would
lead him nowhere.
The Romania Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of
China suggested that Chen wished to distract the Taiwan public from
his government's political difficulties and the island's economic
dilemma.
The Mozambique Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification
of China said the Taiwan leader, was on the wrong path and running
against the historical tide. He would be spurned by the people and
historians.
Prominent Chinese Americans in the Washington area held a press
conference on Tuesday to denounce Chen Shui-bian's latest attempt
to split Taiwan away from China. Chen's latest statements showed
that he was not listening to anyone on the subject of Taiwan said
Dr. Huiqiu Wu, president of the Washington-based National
Association for China's Peaceful Unification said at the
event..
Overseas Chinese people in Spain, the Czech Republic, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Cyprus and Cambodia also held seminars or
made speeches to condemn Chen's decision.
Taiwan compatriots residing on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday
also criticized Chen Shui-bian's decision to end the work of the
"National Unification Council" and ditch the guidelines on
unification.
This was regarded as a grave threat to the one-China policy
which is recognized by the international community and to the peace
and stability across the Taiwan Straits, said a leading official of
the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSGL) Central
Committee, one of the eight non-Communist parties.
The leader called on compatriots on both sides of the Straits to
rally round, oppose those seeking "Taiwan independence" and work
for development and prosperity across the Straits.
The "NUC" had been set up in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities
headed by Lee Teng-hui. Fourteen meetings had been held since it
was established. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen
Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.
The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991. They
state that both the mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty
of China and the promotion of the state's reunification should be a
common cause for all Chinese.
The guidelines also outlined a three-phase goal for the
realization of China's reunification.
(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)