China resolutely objects to the Taiwan-related provisions in the US
defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2003, which wantonly
interfere in China's internal affairs, a Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman said in Beijing Saturday.
Spokesman Kong Quan made the remark when asked to comment on the
defense authorization bill just passed by the US Congress. The
provisions relating to Taiwan request the US president to propose
reports to Congress on the feasibility of US-Taiwan joint military
programs.
China had on many occasions made solemn representations to the
United States on the provisions, and the US administration had
repeatedly enunciated its objection to the provisions, Kong
said.
Kong said China has taken note of the weakening of the provisions
in the passage by the Congress. However, Kong said, the current
text still constituted a violation of the principles set forth in
the three Sino-US joint communiques and the one-China policy which
the US side had reiterated time and again, as well as gross
interference in China's internal affairs.
"We therefore express our resolute opposition," Kong said.
Kong expressed hope that the US side would realize the sensitivity
of the Taiwan issue and the harm the provisions would cause, adhere
to the one-China policy, the three Sino-US joint communiques, as
well as its commitment to oppose "Taiwan independence", and adopt
effective measures to prevent the provisions from passing into
law.
(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2002)