Tang Jiaxuan, China's State Councilor, called for appropriate handling of the Taiwan question in an address on Wednesday at the National Committee on US-China Relations and US-China Business Council.

The Taiwan question is China's core interest as it bears on the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "An appropriate handling of the question, therefore, is the key to a stable and growing relationship between China and the United States," he said.

"We are ready to do our utmost with maximum sincerity to secure the prospect of a peaceful reunification. But we will never put up with 'Taiwan independence,' nor will we allow any one to make Taiwan secede from China by any means," Tang said.

China has taken positive steps to improve and develop cross- Straits relations and has always stood for dialogue with all Taiwan-based political parties, organization and personages who recognize the one-China principle and the "1992 Consensus," Tang said.

However, the Taiwan authorities have to date refused to recognize the one-China principle and the "Taiwan independence" forces are still pushing their agenda of "constitutional reengineering," "name rectification" and other "de jure independence" activities, Tang said.

"Opposing and checking 'Taiwan independence' and maintaining peace and stability in the Straits serve the common interests of both China and the United States," he said.

"We hope that the US side will earnestly honor commitments and join the Chinese side in opposing and checking 'Taiwan independence' so as to preserve our common interests of seeing a peaceful and stable Taiwan Straits," Tang said.

Source: Xinhua