Lee reminded of one country
Beijing yesterday issued its first response to the controversy over Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui reportedly calling the island an 'independent, sovereign country'.
'Our position is very clear. That is, there is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,' Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang said in response to a Western journalist's question.
In a firm but calm statement, Mr Tang did not mention President Lee by name and basically reiterated Beijing's position on the island.
In the past, the mainland has made clear that it would attack Taiwan if it ever made a formal declaration of independence, but Mr Tang yesterday made no mention of such a threat.
'Our policy on the settlement of the Taiwan issue is peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems,' he said.
'We hope the Taiwan authorities will, in a sincere way, come back to the one-China position, and do more to help the improvement and development of cross-strait relations.' Both the Washington Times and The Times in Britain carried interviews on Saturday with Mr Lee, quoting him as saying Taiwan was not a province of the People's Republic.
A statement issued yesterday in Taipei by the President's office strongly denied Mr Lee supported Taiwan independence.
It said the reporters who interviewed Mr Lee had misinterpreted his remarks, explaining that the 'independent country' he referred to in the interview was the Republic of China, not Taiwan itself.
