MEPs to scold China over Taiwan policy

Date: 04/04/02

By David Cronin

MEPs are due to reprimand China next week over Beijing's insistence that it 'reserves the right' to use military force against arch-rival Taiwan.

The European Parliament is expected to endorse a report stating the assembly cannot accept remarks by Chinese President Jiang Zemin over the possibility his country may take up arms against Taiwan to solve its disputes.

Although the paper drafted by Portuguese Socialist Vasco Graça Moura emphasises EU support for the 'one China policy', it urges a 'peaceful resolution' to the problems which have soured relations across the Taiwan Strait.

But the report is upbeat about Taiwan's decision last November to lift a 50-year ban on trade and investment on the Chinese mainland. It urges Beijing to 'respond favourably'.

MEPs are also likely to renew their criticisms of China's human rights record during Wednesday's (10 April) debate. Several deputies are expected to argue that the formal EU-China dialogue on human rights has not led to tangible improvements on the ground.

The report also condemns Beijing for the repression of political dissidents, Tibetan pro-independence advocates, the Falun Gong meditation movement and families that break the one-child-only rule.

Graça Moura branded it 'ironic' that each Chinese constitution since 1954 has upheld citizens' rights but in practise these have been curtailed by the 'four basic principles' set down by lateleader Deng Xiaoping. In the 1970s, he stated rights would be guaranteed only if they did not conflict with socialism, 'democratic dictatorship', Mao Tse-tung's thinking and the Communist hierarchy.

The European Parliament is expected to reprimand China in April 2002 for its insistence that 'it reserves the right' to use military force against Taiwan.