Arms race ‘harms Taiwan citizens’
Print Edition
AN arms race between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland would only harm the island’s citizens, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press conference yesterday.
“We resolutely oppose Taiwan engaging in military and official exchanges of any form with countries having diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China,” Ma said.
“It will lead nowhere if Taiwan’s authorities attempt to guard their wrong political path with bluffs or so-called military strategies,” he said, adding that it would only increase tension and confrontation between the two sides and hinder social and economic development on the island.
Ma said peaceful development of relations lay in opposing “Taiwan independence” and adhering to the 1992 consensus.
The Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and “Taiwan independence” can never be allowed, he said.
“We will strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest efforts and utmost sincerity but will never allow any Taiwan independence supporters to separate Taiwan from China in any name or in any form.”
Ma said that Taiwan independence forces had been itching to make trouble and had organized frequent activities.
“If we just let things go their way, I think both sides know very well about the risks and influence it will bring to cross-Strait relations, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the future of Taiwan,” Ma said.
Responding to questions about Taiwan’s activities with international organizations, Ma said arrangements had to be made through consultations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan under the “One China” principle.
Regarding a recent visit to Taiwan by Japanese Senior Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Jiro Akama, Ma said the visit had severely violated the spirit of political documents agreed by China and Japan.
Meanwhile, Ma called on Taiwan to release several detained fishermen and their boat as soon as possible.
He was responding to reports that Taiwan authorities had detained 20 fishermen from the Chinese mainland in waters around Dongsha Islands on “illegal trespass” charges.
He called on Taiwan to respect that fishermen from both sides of the Strait, including those from Hong Kong and Macau, had long been fishing in the area.
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