Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China's Hu urges closer ties with rival Taiwan
By TINI TRAN,Associated Press Writer AP - 1 hour 36 minutes ago
BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao said Wednesday that often-hostile relations with Taiwan have improved greatly over the past three decades and that Beijing remains committed to its long-term goal of peaceful reunification with the island.
"Great changes have been made in the cross-strait relationship with efforts by compatriots from both sides of the strait," Hu said in an address marking the 30th anniversary of a message from China to "compatriots in Taiwan" calling for reunification by peaceful means.
Hu also laid out the possibility of discussions with Taiwan on the highly sensitive military level.
"The two sides can engage in ... contacts and communications on military issues when appropriate, and discussions on building a trust mechanism for military safety," he said.
At the same time, Hu reinforced Beijing's "one China" policy, saying to heavy applause that "any attempt to separate Taiwan is doomed to failure."
"We call on both sides to negotiate on ending hostilities and reaching a peace agreement on the principle of one China," Hu said.
He specifically addressed Taiwan's pro-independence political party, urging it to give up its policies.
"As long as the Democratic Progressive Party changes its Taiwan independence policy, we are willing to make a positive response," he said.
On Jan. 1, 1979, China's Communist Party announced a reversal of its official policy of using "armed liberation" to repatriate Taiwan, replacing it with a policy of "peaceful reunification." Since then, about 1 million Taiwanese have moved to China to live and work, investing an estimated $150 billion on the mainland.
China and Taiwan split in 1949 during a civil war, but Beijing considers the self-governed island a part of its territory and is determined to get it back, by force if necessary.
Relations between the rivals have improved greatly since Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, a politician from the Beijing-friendly Nationalist Party, took power in May.
Earlier this year, the two sides agreed to begin direct air and shipping services across the Taiwan Strait, ending a nearly six-decade ban on regular links. Regular direct flights resumed Dec. 15.
Hu said China would be willing to work with Taiwan on getting it admitted into international organizations.
"The issue of Taiwan's involvement in events held by international organizations could be reasonably arranged through pragmatic negotiations under the condition of not causing "two Chinas" or "one China and one Taiwan," Hu said.
Ma has made participation in international organizations a key goal of his presidency, and has openly pushed to join the World Health Assembly, a United Nations body.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
China dairy boss delayed reporting quality issuesAP - 16 minutes ago
China's Hu calls for military exchanges with TaiwanAFP - 22 minutes ago
NKorea to hold elections next year for post-Kim era: reportAFP - 38 minutes ago
Bangladesh: Hasina pledges to end violent politicsAP - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Sri Lankan rebels open to peace talksAP - 1 hour 8 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Japanese tourist spends 3 months in Mexico City airport
Two thousand and strange: offbeat stories of the year
US throws $6bln lifeline to GMAC
Natural disasters 'killed over 220,000' in 2008
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular