BEIJING, February 29 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has
reiterated that the solution of the Taiwan issue can not be
delayed indefinitely, and that the position of the Chinese
Government hasn't changed.
Vice-Premier Qian Qichen made the remarks while speaking at an
annual meeting of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas
Chinese held here today.
Qian denied any change in the government's policy on the Taiwan
issue, referring to some foreign reports that China's policy on
solving the Taiwan issue has been changed following the issuing of
the white paper titled "The One-China Principle and the Taiwan
Issue".
"This is wrong," Qian pointed out.
There is no change in the policy of "peaceful reunification and
one country, two systems" nor is there any change in the eight-
point proposition put forward by President Jiang Zemin, Qian
stressed, adding that these have been expressed clearly in the
white paper.
The solving of the Taiwan issue cannot be delayed indefinitely,
and this is China's consistent position and not anything new, Qian
pointed out.
As early as in October 1984, Qian said, the late Chinese leader
Deng Xiaoping pointed out: "We adhere to seeking the solution of
the Taiwan issue by peaceful means, we have never given up the
possibility of using non-peaceful means, and we cannot make such a
commitment. What can we do if the Taiwan Authorities will never
talk with us? Can we give up national reunification?"
The recently-issued white paper titled "The One-China Principle
and the Taiwan Issue" was aimed at "pushing forward the
development of the cross-straits relations and urging the Taiwan
Authorities to sit down to hold talks and negotiations with us,"
Qian said.