China yesterday again toned down its anti-Taiwan rhetoric but still insisted that the island would have to 'completely curtail' its alleged separatist activities before reunification talks could resume.
Taiwan responded by repeating its offers to open direct telephone links and hold peace talks with the mainland.
'The door to negotiation is always open but the Taiwan authorities are continuing with their activities aimed at creating two Chinas while [the United States] is interfering in China's internal affairs by selling a large amount of sophisticated weaponry to Taiwan,' said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Shen Guofang .
Taiwan and the US 'have closed the door and it is up to them to open it again by curtailing activities designed to create two Chinas and not interfering in China's internal affairs.' Only after these conditions were met would Beijing be willing to discuss a summit meeting between President Jiang Zemin and newly re-elected Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui.
Asked what steps Taiwan should take to curtail their separatist activities, Mr Shen said it must give up attempts to forge diplomatic relations with other countries as well regain its seat at the United Nations.
Mr Shen dismissed as unrealistic a suggestion by Taiwan Governor James Soong that reunification could be achieved in four years if Beijing agreed to hold joint presidential elections.
