China urges US to stick to commitments on Taiwan question    

    China urged the United States to stick to the commitments on Taiwan question and be aware of the seriousness and harm of secessionist activities in Taiwan, Liu Jianchao said at the press conference.

    The United States should take substantial efforts to oppose "Taiwan independence" and not send any wrong signal to Taiwan secessionists, Liu Jianchao said.

    "We have noticed that the spokesman for U.S. government reaffirmed that the United States adheres to the one-China policy and opposes 'Taiwan independence'," Liu said.

    "I hope the United States can make joint efforts with us in safeguarding China-U.S. relations and the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," Liu said.

    Taiwan authority leader Chen Shui-bian announced in Taipei on Monday afternoon a decision to put an end to the operation of the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and application of the "National Unification Guidelines".

    The action was strongly opposed and criticized by both senior officials in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan's major parties, including Chinese Kuomintang, the People First Party and Non- Partisan Solidarity Union

    Chen's "perverse acts" have incurred strong criticism from the people across the Taiwan Straits and the international community, Liu said, adding that the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China has issued a statement, which represents "the solemn and just stance of the Chinese government".

    "Chen's acts attempted to challenge the peace and endanger the ties between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits", Liu warned.

    U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Monday that the United States opposes any unilateral move to change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits and does not support "Taiwan independence."

    "Our policy on cross-strait relations has not changed. Our one-China policy is based on the Three Communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. We are, of course, opposed to any unilateral change to the status quo by either side and we do not support 'Taiwan independence'," Ereli said.

    Also on Monday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a briefing that the U.S. one-China policy "remains based on the Three Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act and our belief that there should be no unilateral change in the status quo by either side."

    On Monday, visiting Swiss Defense Minister Samuel Schmid voiced Switzerland's support for the one-China policy and expressed regrets for the current situation across the Taiwan Straits.

    "I hope the two sides across the Straits can conduct dialogues and resolve the Taiwan question through political means," Schmid told reporters at a news briefing in Swiss embassy to China.

    On the same day, Martin Schulz, chairman of the Socialist Groupin the European Parliament, vowed during his China tour that he and the group will, as always, adhere to the one-China policy.

    "We defended the policy in the past, we defend it at present and we will defend it in the future," Schulz pledged.

    A spokesman from Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret at Taiwan's move on the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and the "National Unification Guidelines" in a statement Monday.

    "It will raise concerns about Taiwan's intentions and it is not conducive to the maintenance of stable cross-strait relations," the spokesman said in response to media questions.

    The "NUC" was established in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities and 14 meetings had been held since its establishment. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.

    The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991, saying both the mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and promoting the country's reunification should be the common task of all Chinese. The guidelines also outlined a three- phase goal for the realization of China's reunification. Enditem