This afternoon Mr. Yang Jiechi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, summoned Mr. Prueher, U.S. Ambassador to China, and lodged a stern representation with the U.S. Government over the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act.


Mr. Yang stated that the U.S. House of Representatives, in disregard of the repeated stern representations of the Chinese side, passed on 1 February the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement Act in an attempt to provide the so-called legal ground for the U.S. to conduct and expand military ties and exchanges with Taiwan and sell to the latter various kinds of sophisticated weaponry, equipment and technologies. In adopting the Act, the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming at creating "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas", has undoubtedly violated the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués and the relevant commitments made by the U.S. side, seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. The Chinese Government and people would like to express their strong indignation over and firm opposition to this.


Mr. Yang pointed out that the question of Taiwan bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, directly touches upon the national pride of the entire Chinese people and has always been the most important and the most sensitive issue that lies at the core of China-U.S. relations. In the Sino-U.S. Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, the U.S. Government makes it very clear that it recognizes that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China, there is but one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of China. Any attempt or action to disrupt China's great cause of reunification is absolutely unacceptable to the Chinese Government and people and is also doomed to failure. The Chinese Government and people have the determination, the confidence and the capability to resolve the Taiwan question at an early date and realize the complete reunification of the motherland.


Mr. Yang said that the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, following the Taiwan Relations Act, is yet another bill concocted by a small number of pro-Taiwan and anti-China U.S. Congressmen on the question of Taiwan to deliberately hamper China's great cause of reunification. After the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act was introduced, the Chinese Government lodged stern representations with the U.S. Government, demanding the U.S. side take concrete steps to stop it from becoming law. The U.S. Government has pledged to do that. People with vision in the U.S. Senate and House have also voiced their unequivocal opposition to this bill. However, with the all-out clamoring and support of the pro-Taiwan and anti-China forces in the House, the House has gone so far as to pass this bill aimed at splitting China. Should this bill be passed and become law, it will surely abet Lee Teng-hui in pursuing the "two-state theory" and "Taiwan independence", further aggravate the tension across the Taiwan Straits, undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and seriously impair and disrupt China-U.S. relations.


Mr. Yang stressed that the Chinese side strongly demands the U.S. Government give full attention to the solemn position and demand of the Chinese Government, fully recognize the serious damage the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act could inflict, strictly abide by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqués and the relevant commitments it has undertaken, and take immediate action to prevent the bill from becoming law, as the U.S. Government and President Clinton personally have pledged to do. Moreover, the U.S. side should halt immediately its sales of sophisticated weapons, equipment and technologies to Taiwan in strict accordance with the China-U.S. Joint Communiqué of August 17, 1982 on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.


Mr. Prueher said that he would report immediately the above position of the Chinese side to the U.S. Government. He stated that the U.S. Government is strongly against the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act passed by the House on 1 February.