China opposes US hint at arming Taiwan

• Source: Global Times
• [02:25 November 26 2009]
• Comments

War of words

Burghardt's four-day visit to Taiwan came after US President Barack Obama wrapped up his first official visit to China last week.

Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao released a joint statement, stating that US policy on Taiwan issues based on three US-China communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act would remain unchanged.

However, Burghardt seemed to imply a war of words by saying that "respecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity" mentioned in the joint statement means that the US government admits that Xinjiang and Tibet are parts of China, without mentioning Taiwan, according to Singapore-based Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao.

Burghardt said that in the joint communiqués signed by the US and China in 1972 and 1979, the US stated that it acknowledges there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of China. He said "acknowledges" does not mean "recognizes" or "accepts."

Yang Lixian, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Issues at China's Academy of Social Sciences, said the US was interfering in China's internal affairs and complicating the Taiwan issue.

"Evidently, Burghardt is playing tricks. He has probably distorted the Obama administration's policy towards China," Yang said.

He also pointed out that Burghardt's comments were an attempt to comfort Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which openly seeks the independence of the island.

Li Jiaquan, another researcher with the Institute, said, "Room for Taiwan pro-independence groups to survive is narrowing," adding that the US will not stop interfering in the Taiwan issue in order to balance the rising power of the mainland.

Guo Qiang, Liang Chen and Zhang Han contributed to this story