Home>>Opinion
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 05, 2004

Supporting 'Taiwan independence' not in the interests of EU: European Voice article

Supporting "Taiwan independence" is a threat to European Union's long-standing observance of the "One China" policy, and it will only intensify tension in the Taiwan Straits, Green. Ford, a British member of the European Parliament, pointed out in his article carried in the latest issue of European Voice weekly.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Supporting "Taiwan independence" is a threat to European Union's long-standing observance of the "One China" policy, and it will only intensify tension in the Taiwan Straits, Green. Ford, a British member of the European Parliament, pointed out in his article carried in the latest issue of European Voice weekly.

Confrontation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan actually resulted from US military intervention conducted out of its own interests half a century ago, behind which there still looms the shadow of the Cold War, said the article entitled "Seeking Taiwan independence a threat to the EU long-standing observance of the 'One China' policy".

In the new century China is sure to be one of the world's economic engines, the article said. China's manufacturing industry realized two-digit growth in 2003, while that of Europe was a negative growth. The Chinese economy continues its high rate of growth, and to further the solid EU-China partnership is in the interests of the EU. Taiwan's seeking for "independence" will inevitably trigger arms race in the region of East Asia, and therefore jeopardize the EU-China partnership.

The EU should not encourage any destabilizing factors affecting the status quo of the Taiwan Straits, the article said. Taiwan should merge with the mainland, instead of promoting "Taiwan independence" through interest groups within the EU or the United States. Going in for "Taiwan independence" would eventually harm the interests of all sides.

As a member of the European Parliament commission in charge of foreign affairs, human rights and security affairs, Ford also noted in his article that the successful implementation of "One Country, Two Systems" in Hong Kong has provided Taiwan with a good prospect for promoting the process of a similar merger. At last he suggested that the EU should resolutely resist any attempt to give disguised recognition of Taiwan as an "independent state" by helping the island to join the World Health Organization and, on this basis, the EU should not receive any high-ranking political personages from Taiwan.

By People's Daily Online


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Taiwan's "referendum" a unilateral provocation

China urges US to continue opposing Taiwan independence

China asks Paris to slam Taiwan splittists





 


China, Wi-Fi fight for WLAN standard ( 4 Messages)

US visa rules anger students ( 13 Messages)

Beijing to build two new Christian churches ( 4 Messages)

Australian PM appalled at attack on Chinese restaurants ( 8 Messages)

China concerned about Japan dispatching troops to Iraq: FM spokeswoman ( 3 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved