Chinese Army Able to Check Any Separatist Act

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 09, 2002

Chinese Army Able to Check Any Separatist Act

China's armed forces will unswervingly defend the country's sovereignty and unity, and have the resolve as well as the capability to check any separatist act, says a white paper issued Monday.

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China's armed forces will unswervingly defend the country's sovereignty and unity, and have the resolve as well as the capability to check any separatist act, says a white paper issued Monday.

The white paper, titled "China's National Defense in 2002", says that the Chinese government will strive for prospects of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and the maximum effort but will not forswear the use of force.

China is a unitary multi-ethnic country jointly created by its people of all ethnic groups. The Chinese government forbids discrimination and oppression against any ethnic group, as well asany act aimed at undermining ethnic harmony and splitting the country, says the white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," says the paper, adding that the Chinese government will, in keeping with the basicprinciples of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal on developing cross-Straits relations and advancing the process of peaceful national reunification at the present stage, strive for prospects of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and the maximum effort. But it will not forswear the use of force.

"China resolutely opposes arms sales to Taiwan or entering intoa military alliance in any form with Taiwan by any country," says the paper.

"China's armed forces will unswervingly defend the country's sovereignty and unity, and have the resolve as well as the capability to check any separatist act," it says.

The basic pattern and trend of development in the cross-Taiwan Straits relationship remain unchanged. As the Taiwan compatriots are more vocal in their demand for peace, tranquility and development, cross-Straits economic, trade, cultural and personnelexchanges have become more frequent, and the opening of three direct links in mail, air and shipping, and trade between the two sides represents the popular will and the trend of the times.

"But the root cause of tension between the two sides has not been eliminated," says the paper. The Taiwan separatist force is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. And a handful of countries have interfered in China's internal affairs and undermined China's peaceful reunification.

The white paper says that China is concerned about certain countries' joint research and development of theater missile defense (TMD) systems with a view to their deployment in the Northeast Asian region. This will lead to the proliferation of advanced missile technology and be detrimental to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

"China resolutely opposes any country which provides Taiwan with TMD assistance or protection in any form," it says.

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