“The congress will set a new direction for Taiwan affairs,” Li Weiyi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council, said Wednesday in a briefing in Beijing. “It will be critical to determining cross-strait relations going forward.” Li gave no further specifics.

A total of 2,217 delegates will gather in Beijing Oct. 15 to elect a new party leadership and set new policies for the next five years. The congress, which takes place every five years, is expected to re-elect President Hu Jintao and his government for another five-year term.

“We object to any move towards Taiwan independence,” Li said.

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian is proposing a referendum on the island rejoining the United Nations under the name of Taiwan at the same time as a presidential election in March. China says the proposal is tantamount to declaring independence.

If more than 50 percent of Taiwan’s voters support Chen’s referendum, China’s People’s Liberation Army may prepare for and threaten war, Taiwan’s United Daily News reported Aug. 27, citing President Hu Jintao, who spoke at a party meeting.

In 2005, the National People’s Congress passed an anti- secession law, which lays the legal groundwork for an invasion of Taiwan should its authorities declare independence.

China is also unhappy with Taiwan’s rejection of the Olympic torch passing through the island. “We regret to see this,” Li said.

Li also warned Taiwan’s military not to install missiles on Matsu, an outlying island Taiwan controls. “Don’t play with fire because you’ll be burned,” He said.

Li also commented on an ongoing dispute between Taiwan’s Shinkong Mitsukoshi Department Store and its mainland joint venture partner, Hualian Group Co. The two, which run a 50-50 joint venture department store in Beijing, have been locked in a management dispute.

“News reports on talks breaking down aren’t true,” Li said. “As I understand, the talks are going well and Taiwanese executives have returned to work.”

Subscribe to The China Post and save.  Click hereSharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 800 characters max

Receive China Post promos

Respond to this email