China expressed the hope on October 11 that peace in Afghanistan be resumed as soon as possible and reiterated its stance that civilians should not be harmed by hostilities. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi, who stressed that the establishment of "an Afghan coalition government," which can be accepted by all parties and is able to co-operate with neighboring countries in a friendly manner, would be beneficial to the Afghan people and conducive to regional peace and stability.
"China supports activities in combating terrorism," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sun Yuxi, who stressed that the establishment of "an Afghan coalition government," which can be accepted by all parties and is able to co-operate with neighboring countries in a friendly manner, would be beneficial to the Afghan people and conducive to regional peace and stability.
Sun said China feels sorry to the victims of innocent civilians, stressing that the relevant military strikes on terrorism should be targeted at specific objectives so as to minimize civilian casualties and damage to civilian properties.
In view of the current situation, Sun said China has strengthened security measures along its border with Afghanistan.
All of China's institutions in Pakistan, including its embassy and counsel in Karachi, are working normally, Sun said.
"The Chinese Government opposes terrorism of any form," said Sun, saying that there is a wide-range of issues in various fields where China and the US can strengthen co-operation, including fighting terrorism.
Sun's remarks came in response to the forthcoming meeting between President Jiang Zemin and his US counterpart George W. Bush at the APEC meeting.
Sun said strengthening international co-operation to safeguard world peace and security after the September 11 attacks would be highlighted during the meeting.
When asked about Taiwan's envoy to the APEC meeting, Sun said that the island takes part in APEC meetings as an "economy," addressing that its representation is limited to business according to APEC MOU.
The relevant APEC MOU has explicitly provided for the participation of Chinese Taipei in the APEC informal leadership meeting. Over the years, APEC has formed established practices, which have been strictly followed by all member economies.
It is reported that Taipei has decided to send former "vice-president" Li Yuan-zu to Shanghai to attend the APEC informal leaders meeting.
Turning to the illegal immigration case which led to the deaths of 25 Chinese nationals in the Republic of Korea, Sun said China wanted "active co-operation" and an "immediate and thorough investigation" into the incident off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.
In a strongly worded statement, China wanted the ROK Government to severely punish the perpetrators and properly handle the remaining problems of the incident. Local police said they were hunting down a human smuggling ring based in Yosu.
Police said 60 people from three provinces in China started the trip on a Chinese boat on October 1 and were transferred at sea to a ROK fishing vessel.
However only 35 people - including 11 ethnic Koreans - were in good health and being detained, according to police at Yosu port. Most were arrested by police when they landed on an island near Yosu.
The Chinese Embassy in the ROK has sent officials to Yosu to collect information from the survivors.
The case was the deadliest human smuggling one originating in China since 58 people from East China's Fujian Province suffocated in a tomato truck heading to the British port of Dover from the Netherlands last June.
( China Daily 10/12/2001)
