Chen Shui-bian's move very risky: FM (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-03-04 09:25
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Friday denounced Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian for scrapping a policy-making council on unification with the
mainland, warning the move is very risky and the scheme will not succeed.
Protesters hold
placards during a rally outside the Chung Hwa Travel Service, a Taiwan
representative organisation, in Hong Kong February 28,2006, to protest
against Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's decision to abolish the island's
national unification council and its guidelines. Chen announced the
decision to terminate the "national unification council" and the "national
unification guidelines" after a one-hour meeting with Taiwan's top
security agency, the "national security council." The protesters
criticized Chen for betraying his 2000 pledge and endangering
cross-Straits ties.[newsphoto] | Li made the
remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of the Tenth
National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), China's top advisory body, in the Great Hall of the People.
Chen announced on Monday that the "National Unification Council" founded in
1990 shall "cease to function" and the "National Unification Guidelines" shall
"cease to apply."
Chinese President Hu Jintao said during a meeting with visiting Swiss Defense
Minister Samuel Schmid on Feb. 28 that "it is a grave provocation to the
one-China policy universally adhered to by the international community and
cross-Straits peace and stability."
Chen's decision is a dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence," Hu
said.
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