China is blind to Taiwan's people

[dArKeR]

By the Liberty Times editorial

Sunday, May 30, 2004,Page 8

Several days before President Chen Shui-bian's (???) inauguration, China's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement on May 17, declaring the so-called "five nevers" and "seven visions," as well as offering to the Taiwan regime two roads from which to choose. "One is to stop while there is still time, ceasing all Taiwan independence and splittist activities, to acknowledge that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and to promote the development of cross-strait relationship; the other is to continue down the path of wishfully attempting to split Taiwan from China, and ultimately heading for self-destruction by playing with fire." The statement openly threatened that "if those in power in Taiwan take the chance and dare to to make major moves for Taiwan independence, the Chinese people will spare no costs in crushing Taiwan independence plots with firm determination."

Last Monday, the same office called a press conference to officially respond to Chen's inauguration speech on May 20, largely reiterating the May 17 statement. It also criticized Chen for "going back on his words and lacking in credibility," as well as claiming that "the possibility of the outbreak of a war in the Taiwan Strait depends solely on the attitude of Chen Shui-bian." The press conference had become an attack on Chen.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/05/30/2003157547