The central government holds that the "peace framework" and "pattern of negotiation" proposed by the Taiwan authorities are shams, according to Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) of the State Council.

At a Wednesday press conference, Zhang said that Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's separatist activities have triggered tension across the Taiwan Straits and seriously endangered peace and stability in the region.

The May 17 statement issued earlier this year by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party Central Committee and the TAO demonstrates the mainland’s sincerity in promoting cross-Straits relations as well as its firm resolution to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement says that the mainland will never compromise on the one-China principle, never give up the effort for peace talks, never stop sincerely seeking peace and development with Taiwan compatriots, never waver in its resolution to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and never tolerate Taiwan independence.

But the Taiwan authorities obstinately push independence activities, making Chen Shui-bian's "peace framework" and "pattern of negotiation" meaningless.

The central government will not have any dealings with the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unless it abandons its party program of Taiwan independence, said Zhang.

The mainland welcomes Taiwan people to come for visits or to exchange ideas about the advancement of peaceful reunification and improving relations across the Straits, in accordance with the eight-point proposal presented by former President Jiang Zemin in 1995 on the settlement of the Taiwan issue, said Zhang.

The central government continues to welcome DPP members who are not among the tiny minority of separatists to come to the mainland for travel, or investment, business, medical treatment or study.

Zhang also noted that US Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent remarks "Taiwan is not independent" complies with the foreign policy of the United States.

"During his recent visit to China, Powell explicitly said the United States would unswervingly pursue the one-China policy and opposes Taiwan independence," said Zhang. "We also noticed that Powell told Hong Kong's Phoenix Television that Taiwan is not independent and is not a sovereign a nation.'"

These remarks accord with the China policy of the United States, Zhang said, and after the remarks were made the US State Department reiterated that the nation would adhere to the one-China policy.

Zhang also noted that despite this, the US has not followed the arms sales restrictions agreed upon in the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués.

According to the communiqués signed on August 17, 1982, the US will reduce and eventually halt arms sales to Taiwan. In addition, arms sales to Taiwan shall be limited to defensive weapons.

(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn October 27, 2004)