Int'l community denounces Taiwan leader's secessionist move

UN officials, dozens of governments and their leaders have reiterated their support for the one-China principle in statements or speeches, while denouncing Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's decision to "cease the function" of the "National Unification Council."

Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlement Program, Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, said her organization always upheld the one-China principle.

The Taiwan authorities' deed apparently ran counter to the fundamental interests of all the Chinese and was not conducive to regional peace and stability, she said.

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said he was shocked by the Taiwan authorities' decision.

"Chen Shui-bian's decision will increase tensions in the cross-strait relations, and will pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific region," Skerrit said in a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Dominica.

He meanwhile stressed that his country stood by the one-China principle and opposed any secessionist activities leading to "Taiwan independence."

Cameroon's Minister of External Relations Laurent Esso said Chen Shui-bian did not change his nature as a "Taiwan independence" pusher. Cameroon will always adhere to the one-China principle and this position will remain unchanged.

The Angolan government voiced its grave concern over Chen's decision in a press communique released on Friday. It reaffirmed its support for the Chinese government's peaceful reunification cause.

Permanent Secretary of the Zimbabwean Foreign Ministry Bhima said Chen's move was challenging the international community's consensus.

He stressed that the Zimbabwean government adhered to the one-China policy and opposed "Taiwan independence."

Seychelles' Minister of Foreign Affairs Patrick Pillay wrote a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the African country, expressing deep concern about Chen Shui-bian's decision and clear-cut opposition to it.

Andi Mappetahang Fatwa, deputy speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly, also condemned Chen Shui-bian's recent moves, saying they will bring about difficulties to a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question, further strain the cross-straits ties, and endanger peace and stability in the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Cambodian government on Friday strongly condemned the Taiwan leader's secessionist act and reiterated its support of China's peaceful reunification.

"Cambodia has always supported the one-China policy and the peaceful reunification of China," said a statement released by the Foreign Ministry. "At the same time, Cambodia has consistently regarded Taiwan as a territory of the People's Republic of China."

The Foreign Ministry of Nepal explicitly condemned Chen Shui-bian's decision, saying "this initiative will have far reaching implications undermining peace across the Taiwan Straits."

Nepal had consistently supported the one-China policy and the peaceful reunification of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, the ministry said.

Pakistan also voiced its full support for the one-China principle and rejection to any move aimed at changing the principle.

"The government of Pakistan firmly believed that there is only one China and that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China," a statement said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said his country felt uneasy about the Taiwan leader's decision to "cease the function" of the "National Unification Council" as well as the application of the "National Unification Guidelines."

"Turkey, which has always supported solution of disagreements by peaceful means, believed this decision will not help peace and stability in the Asia- Pacific region, and hoped the issue would be solved through negotiations by related parties," he said.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry delivered a note to the Chinese Embassy in Estonia, expressing the country's position -- the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government of China and Taiwan is an integral part of the Chinese territory.

Estonia will continue to adopt the one-China policy, the note said.

Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj said his government will as always uphold the one-China principle. He promised that the Albanian government will not have any contact with the Taiwan authorities, not only in the past, but also at present and in the future.

Latvia's Foreign Ministry accused Chen Shui-bian's act of contradicting the efforts to maintain stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian announced his decision to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" (NUC) and the application of the "National Unification Guidelines" on Monday and formally signed papers endorsing his move on Tuesday amid grave international concerns and repeated warnings.

The "NUC" was set up in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities headed by Lee Teng-hui. A total of 14 meetings were held after its establishment. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.

The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991, saying both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and the promotion of the state's reunification should be the common task of all Chinese.

The guidelines also outlined a three-phase goal for the realization of China's reunification.

Source: Xinhua