The US Congress recently adopted the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States, which includes a number of provisions relating to Taiwan and has been endorsed.

The provisions of the act on protecting US military personnel equal Taiwan to the ally countries of NATO and other US allies, regarding military and administrative personnel of Taiwan as those of US allies, and requiring immunity for those Taiwanese personnel from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

This seriously violated the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques, ran counter to the one China policy that the US government had repeatedly stated, and rampantly interfered in China's internal affairs, Kong said.

"This is what the Chinese side definitely cannot accept."

The spokesman said the Chinese side has made repeated presentations to the US government, which, however, failed to take effective measures to stop the passage of the act though it expressed opposition to the relevant provisions.

China is strongly discontent with and diametrically opposed to it, the spokesman said.

Kong said Taiwan is part of China and absolutely not a "dependency" of any foreign country.

A handful of US die-hards cling to a "Cold War mentality" and maliciously push for closer relations between the United States and Taiwan in an attempt to obstruct China's great cause of reunification and undermine Sino-US relations.

"Their aim will never succeed," Kong said.

"We urge the US government to fully realize the damaging effect of these provisions concerning Taiwan, stick to the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques, make clear its opposition to these provisions and take effective measures to eliminate their negative impact so as to avoid severe damage to Sino-US relations."

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2002)