China hopes that the United States would honor its commitments and oppose Taiwan's provocative activities aimed to split China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Tuesday.  

Liu said at a regular press conference that the United States should handle properly the Taiwan issue in order to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the common interests between China and the United States.

Liu said the US side had reiterated on many occasions that it would stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence."

Some senior US officials including State Department spokesman Richard Boucher had recently emphasized that any move towards "Taiwan independence" is dangerous and the United States opposes any referendum to change Taiwan's status and to move to "Taiwan independence," said Liu.

The separatist forces in Taiwan sought "Taiwan independence" under the disguise of "democracy" and "human rights," which is fraudulent and dangerous, said Liu, adding that "Taiwan independence" had become the major threat to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

During his official visit to the United States, scheduled to begin on Dec. 7, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will exchange views with the US side on the Taiwan issue, said Liu.

Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear stalemate, the spokesman said China has close contacts with all countries concerned and preparations for a second round of six-party talks are in full swing.

"There are two key issues -- one is to ensure a nuclear-free Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the other is to solve the security concerns of the DPRK," said Liu.

He said all parties involved still have differences on the two issues as well as other related questions.

The specific date for the second round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue is undecided, but all the parties are making preparations. "We're hoping for an early date for the second round of talks," said Liu.

Also at yesterday’s briefing, the spokesman said China regards the Geneva Initiative as a good attempt to achieve peace in the Middle East and welcomes such an initiative.

Liu said that the initiative played a positive role in promoting the peace process in the Middle East.

Chinese Middle East special envoy Wang Shijie attended the international Geneva Initiative conference on the Palestine-Israel issue in Geneva on Monday and exchanged views with the participants on issues like the Middle East peace process.

Liu said China will continue to push forward the just and comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue at an early date together with the international community.

The Geneva Initiative, a Palestine-Israel peace plan, was formally launched in Geneva Monday.

In another development, the spokesman said President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) Deng Pufang, who won the 2003 United Nations Prize in Field of Human Rights, deserves the prize.

Liu made the remark at a congratulatory speech for Deng.

Deng has devoted himself to improving the lives of China's disabled people and protecting their human rights, and contributed greatly to improving the situation of the disabled people, Liu said.

Deng also actively advocated international cooperation in protecting the rights and interests of disabled people, and made consistent efforts to improve the situation and protect the rights and interests of disabled people across the world, Liu said.

The prize is both an appreciation of Deng's achievements, and an affirmation of China's efforts in promoting and protecting human rights, Liu said.

(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, December 3, 2003)