January 30, 1996
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m.
From Correspondent Andrea Koppel
BEIJING (CNN)--Chinese Premier Li Peng in a speech Tuesday said the future of Taiwan lay in peaceful reunification with mainland China, and he warned "foreign forces" not to "interfere" with the process.
Li's speech reiterated China's long-held position toward Taiwan, placing the blame for worsening ties on Taipei officials whom he accused of seeking independence.
Although Li gave no timetable for reunification, he made it clear that it would, without a doubt, occur as CNN's Andrea Koppel reports. (145K AIFF sound or 145K WAV sound)
The speech marked the first anniversary of a keynote address by President Jiang Zemin on Taiwan relations. But rather than try to spook Taiwan with threats, Li directed his strongest criticism toward "foreign forces," warning those "who attempt to interfere with China's reunification" not to meddle in Chinese affairs.
In recent months American scholars and diplopomats have received strong messages from Beijing not to encourage Taiwan and its president, Lee Teng-hui, in their collective effort to gain international recognition--in this case a seat in the United Nations.
China repeatedly has asked the United States not to invite Taiwan officials to Washington. But so far, Washington has refused to give in to those demands. U.S. officials welcomed Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui during his visit last June.
In his speech, Premier Li wanted to make sure that the U.S. Congress does not invite Taiwan's newly-elected president, most likely Lee, to visit Washington.
Taiwan holds its first democratic presidential election on March 23.
Over the last several months, China has stepped up its military maneuvers in the Taiwan straits, and last week, according to a New York Times report, Beijing insisted that Taiwan must end its campaign for independence from mainland China, or China may be forced to attack.
Analysts said Li's speech, coupled with China's recent actions toward Taiwan, showed that Beijing was set on minimizing the significance of the election while also reducing Taiwanese President Lee's support.
"Beijing does not want to see Lee win with overwhelming support, nor does it want to see any ticket win more than 50 percent of the ballot," said the China Times Express, an evening newspaper.
In Taiwan, reactions to the speech were mixed.
Chen Li-an, an opponent of President Lee's in the March election, said, "The most important thing right now is for both sides to explore and create the opportunity for peace and to avoid military confrontation."
However, Peng Ming-min, who is also running in the election, believed differently.
"China treats Taiwan only as a piece of land. It thinks that by taking the land it can take the people as well," said Peng. "This is feudalism. It does not comply with the idea of human rights."
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