Taiwan issue

In response to the letter Taiwan opposes arms race written by Ms. Cindy Chien (The Jakarta Post, May 11, 1999), I would like to state a few points of view in the capacity of press officer of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.

Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. The present situation that Taiwan and the mainland have remained divided temporarily is unable to change the fact that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. This fact is also recognized by the United Nations and the majority of the international community.

The reunification of China has been a common aspiration and in the common interests of all the Chinese people both on the mainland and in Taiwan. The delay of the reunification is due to the meddling of foreign anti-China forces in the Taiwan issue. Their interference in China's internal affairs is designed to obstruct China's reunification and thereby checking and containing the development of China.

The Chinese government always seeks to achieve the reunification of the country by peaceful means according to the principle of "one country, two systems". But we will not commit ourselves not to resort to force, which is an important guarantee to the realization of peaceful reunification. It will only make the peaceful reunification an impossibility if we promise not to use force. By which means to solve the Taiwan issue is entirely an internal affair of China. Every sovereign state has the right to use all means it thinks necessary, including military means, to safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A recent U.S. Defense Department report on the security situation in Taiwan Strait dispels the notion that Taiwan is under a so-called "threat of missile attack" from China. This is an attempt to whip up public opinion and excuses to justify the sales of sophisticated weapons to Taiwan and to include Taiwan in the proposed U.S. Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system. This is a severe interference in China's internal affairs, exposing the genuine intention of the U.S. to obstruct the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese government expresses staunch opposition to this. The meddling in regional affairs by outside forces led by the U.S. is the biggest threat to regional security.

ZHANG JUN

Press Officer of the Embassy

of the People's Republic of China

in Jakarta