Winding up a two-day convention which opened in Washington November 25, the US-based alliance of overseas Chinese opposing an independent Taiwan adopted a declaration which denounces any attempt to split China and calls for early peaceful unification of the motherland.

The declaration said it has been proved that cross-Taiwan Straits exchanges and cooperation will go smoothly when the one-China principle is adhered to, and that such exchanges have so far not only facilitated mutual understanding between compatriots but also promoted economic development on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

But a handful of politicians in Taiwan, including the new Taiwan authorities, have so far refused to accept the one-China principle, and even declined to identify themselves as Chinese.

This not only hurts the national feelings of all Chinese people and strains cross-Taiwan Straits relations, but also jeopardizes peace and stability in the Asian and Pacific region.

Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, as well as over 30 million overseas Chinese, are resolved to oppose any attempt to split China, the declaration noted.

It called for unity of overseas Chinese in urging the Taiwan authorities to accept the one-China policy and commit themselves

to cross-Taiwan Straits dialogues for the eventual peaceful unification of China.

The declaration also denounced the US government for selling advanced weapons to Taiwan, saying that the arms sale is detrimental to world peace and the development of mankind.

Nearly 600 representatives of overseas Chinese from over 40 countries and regions around the world attended the convention, the second of its kind since the first convention was held in Berlin in August.

Participants of the Washington convention agreed at the closing session Sunday that the third convention of the alliance will be held in Japan in mid-2001.

(Xinhua 11/27/2000)