4. On Taking Non-Peaceful Means to Stop Taiwan's Secession fromChina by the "Taiwan independence" Forces

    We have consistently stood for reunifying the country through peaceful means. People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese and the Taiwan compatriots are our own brothers and sisters. No one is more desirous of achieving a peaceful reunification than we are. So long as there is a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, we will exert our utmost to make it happen rather than give it up. At the same time, let us be absolutely clear that safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity is the core interest of our country and our nation and the common obligation of all Chinese people, our Taiwan compatriots included. We have never forsworn the use of force. Nosovereign state can tolerate secession and every sovereign state has the right to use necessary means to defend its sovereignty andterritorial integrity.

    Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defense of our sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification should prove futile. The draft legislation provides that in the event that the"Taiwan independence" forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful meansand other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The draft legislation also provides that the State Council and the Central Military Commission are authorized to decide on and execute non-peaceful means and other necessary measures, and promptly report to the Standing Committee of the NPC.

    It needs to be stressed here that should the "Taiwan independence" forces insist on going their own way and leave us with no other option but to employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures, such means and measures would be completely targeted against the "Taiwan independence" forces rather in any way against our Taiwan compatriots. The draft legislation clearlyprovides that in the event of employing and executing non-peacefulmeans and other necessary measures, the state shall exert its utmost to protect the lives, property and other legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan civilians and foreign nationals in Taiwan,and to minimize losses; at the same time, the state shall protect the rights and interests of the Taiwan compatriots in other parts of China in accordance with law.

    I have hereby presented the Anti-Secession Law (Draft) and the foregoing explanations for your deliberation.

    Note:

    The official version of this speech in Chinese will be releasedby Xinhua News Agency.

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