Learn mandarin - Wen: Chen Shui-bian "dangerous and deceitful"

CHINA / Official Publication

Wen: Chen Shui-bian "dangerous and deceitful"

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-03-14 10:24

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao pledged that China will continue to implement
its reform and opening-up policy, and endeavor to build the country into
a well-off state with its own characteristics.

At a press conference in the Great Hall of the People after the
lawmakers' annual session, Wen Jiabao gave a stern warning to Chen
Shui-bian concerning the Taiwan leader's secessionist activities. Wen
says Beijing is paying close attention to the situation in the island and
is prepared to take action if necessary.

Chen's recent move to scrap the reunification council and reunification
guidelines was "dangerous and deceitful", against the will of people, and
endangered peace and stability in the area, said the Chinese premier.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao listens to a question during a news conference
after the closing session of National People's Congress at the Great Hall
of the People in China's capital Beijing March 14, 2006. Wen pledged on
Tuesday to press that China will continue to implement its reform and
opening-up policy, and endeavor to build the country into a well-off
state with its own characteristics. [Reuters]

��China has no way out by retreating (from reform), but to go forward��
in facing different and amounting difficulties or setbacks, Wen said,
before he fed questions from foreign and Chinese journalists at the Great
Hall of the People in Beijing Tuesday morning.

The annual 10-day session of the lawmaking body, the National People's
Congress, concluded in Beijing Tuesday, with the legislators approving
the Eleventh Five-Year development plan for China from 2006-2010 by an
overwhelming majority. The plan highlights a government investment shift
from better developed urban areas to poorer rural regions in the coming
years.

The Chinese premier said it is a tradition that the country and its
people, while staying in stable social environment and on its ascent, are
good at thinking of the uncertainties, potential risks and hidden
problems.

Wen said that he and his administration are thankful of the people's
popular support, and what "saddened him most" in the past three years as
China's premier is that the government could have done better to solve
some of people's concerns, especially about medical care, education,
housing and work safety.

** Chen Shui-bian��dangerous and deceitful��

Wen Jiabao gave a stern warning to Chen Shui-bian concerning the Taiwan
leader's secessionist activities. Wen says Beijing is paying close
attention to the situation in the island and is prepared to take action
if necessary.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao answers a question during a press conference
after the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's
Congress in Beijing, March 14, 2006. The annual meeting of the nation's
top lawmaking body closed Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People.
[Xinhua]

Wen said if Chen were to give up his pursuit for Taiwan independence,
Beijing would be ready to engage in political talk with any party,
including Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progress Party.

"The negotiations will be held on an equal footing, and there is no
question as one side will swallow up the other one," Wen said.

"No matter what party affiliations they may have, no matter who they are,
what they said or did in the past, so long as they are committed to the
one-China principle, we are ready to have dialogues and negotiations with
them, even including those from the Democratic Progressive Party in
Taiwan," Wen said.

Chen scrapped a policy-making council on reunification with the mainland
in late February.

Wen said Chen's move to scrap the reunification council and reunification
guidelines was "dangerous and deceitful", against the will of people, and
endangered peace and stability in the area. Wen said Chen, in the end,
will lose popular support from his constituency because of his
secessionist activities.

"It's a grave affront to the one-China policy," Wen said.

He said the Taiwanese leader is making trouble that is affecting both the
island and the cross-Strait ties. Wen believes Chen is trying to restrict
and block cross-Strait exchanges, which may harm Taiwan's interests.

Wen said China will never tolerate the secession of Taiwan from the
motherland, and will do its best to seek for peaceful reunification.

** New Countryside

Wen stressed the importance of building new socialist countryside in the
coming years to sustain a rapid economic growth in the future.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds his watch as he extends his news
conference for two more questions after the National People's Congress at
the Great Hall of the People in China's capital Beijing March 14, 2006.
The annual meeting of the nation's top lawmaking body closed Tuesday at
the Great Hall of the People. [Reuters]

"The issues concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers are
fundamental ones bearing on the overall China's modernization drive," Wen
said. Building the new socialist countryside refers to putting
agriculture and rural areas "more prominently on the agenda of China's
modernization drive."

Apart from completely rescinding agricultural taxes, China plans to
earmark nearly 340 billion yuan (US$43 billion) for agriculture, rural
areas and farmers in 2006, 42.2 billion yuan more over last year,
according to Wen's work report at this year's NPC session.

In building new socialist countryside, democratic rights of farmers
should be safeguarded, especially their rights on land production and
management, Wen said.

China's governemnt must render harsh punishment to those who illicitly
seize land from the farmers, Wen said.

** Japanese leaders responsible for stalled bilateral ties

In response to a question on China-Japan relations, the premier admitted
that bilateral ties between the two countries has been running up with
difficulties.

It will be very difficult for the Sino-Japanese relations to make
progress if the issue of Japanese leaders' visits to a shrine worshipping
war criminals can not be well resolved, Wen said.

It is not the Chinese nor the Japanese people, but the leaders of Japan,
to blame for the souring Sino-Japanese ties, Wen said at the press
conference.

The premier stressed that the China-Japan relations could "hardly develop
in a smooth manner" unless the issue of Japanese leaders' visits to
Yasukuni Shrine worshipping class-A WWII war criminals can be well
addressed.

It is China's unswerving effort to develop friendly Sino-Japanese
relations from generation to generation, Wen said.

Page: 1 2

Related Full Coverages

NPC session ends, Premier meets journalists

Premier Wen Jiabao answers questions from foreign and domestic
journalists after the conclusion of the annual session of the National
People's Congress in Beijing March 14, 2006. The annual meeting of the
top lawmaking body closed at the Great Hall of the People. [Xinhua]
UNSC members meet for Iran nuke issue

Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours

� Bird flu control long-term task: Vice Premier

� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Hebei court hears deadly land dispute case
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation

Today's Top News 

� Wen: We're keeping close eye on secessionist moves

� Premier rules out RMB surprise rise

� NPC endorses shift in economic policy

� Minister: Stay away from wild birds

� Wen: China to stay the reform course

Top China News 

� Chertoff: China won't take back deported citizens

� Premier: No RMB surprise rise

� Rules to regulate TV entertainment contests

� Toll hits 21 in N. China coal mine blast

� China to press on with reforms: Premier Wen

Learn mandarin