Chen's "holy war" against mainland condemned ( 2003-12-31 16:37) (chinadaily.com.cn)
Beijing condemned Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Wednesday for waging a
"holy war" against the mainland, calling him immoral and accusing him of fanning
anti-Beijing sentiment to win votes in "presidential"
elections.
Zhang Mingqing
invites questions from reporters at a news conference in Beijing.
[file/newsphoto]
Newspapers in Taiwan quoted Chen as telling a campaign rally
in southern Taiwan on Saturday, the March 2004 elections were a holy war by the
Taiwan people against the Chinese communists.
"He unscrupulously fanned Taiwan compatriots' anti-mainland sentiment for his
own selfish interest and for the elections," Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the
State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a news conference.
"This goes against the will of Taiwan compatriots to seek peace, stability
and development," he said. "This is extremely immoral."
Tension has been simmering since Taiwan passed a controversial bill in
November allowing referendums, which is a cover for separatist elements on the
island.
In Taipei, Chen ignored US warnings and signed the bill into law on Wednesday
as expected.
"Today is a historic day," Chen said in a statement. "Our
dream has come true."
US President George W. Bush bluntly warned Taiwan this month against
unilaterally changing the status quo with the Chinese mainland, pouring cold
water on Chen's drive to hold a referendum.
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979,
but remains the island's main arms supplier and trading partner.
Zhang accused Chen of "deceiving" the Taiwan public and the international
community by reneging on a pledge he made in his May 2000 inaugural speech not
to hold a referendum on reunification versus independence.
Facing a tough re-election battle, Chen has made his provocative claim that
Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are separate countries a cornerstone of his
campaign, aiming to shore up support from pro-independence
voters.
Chinese mainland announced this month the arrest of 24 suspected
spies from Taiwan and 19 accomplices from the Chinese mainland, one of the
biggest espionage scandals since 1949.
Despite tension, investment, trade and tourism have blossomed since the late
1980s. Taiwan investors have poured up to US$100 billion into the mainland,
lured by low land and labour costs and a common language and
culture.
Zhang also said time was running out to charter flights between
the mainland and Taiwan during the Lunar New Year holidays in
January.
Taiwan has banned direct air and shipping links with the
mainland since 1949.
