Taiwan rejects discussing with Beijing about removing missiles

Jul 31, 2010, 1:59 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan has rejected China's call to hold talks on China's removing the missiles facing Taiwan, but asked China to remove the missiles on its own initiative instead.

The Defence Ministry made the statement late Friday after a Chinese military official said that if Taipei agreed to hold talks with Beijing under the 'one-China' principle, the two sides could discuss China's removing the missiles facing Taiwan.

In response, Taiwan's Defence Ministry asked China to remove the missiles on its own initiative.

'China has deployed more than 1,000 mobile missiles against Taiwan, so whether China removes them or not, it has no significance on the military level,' the statement said.

'However, we would like to see China remove the missiles on its own initiative and let the Taiwan people feel Beijing's goodwill,' it added.

The offer to hold talks was made by Geng Yansheng, spokesman for China's Defence Ministry, at a news conference Friday. He was answering a question from a reporter.

'The two sides can discuss anything under the 'one China' principle, including Taipei's request that Beijing remove missiles,' Geng said.

The 'one-China' policy states that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan opposes the 'one-China' policy because it considers itself a sovereign country.

Several Taiwan lawmakers dismissed China's offer as propaganda.

'Of course the two sides can discuss anything under the 'one-China' policy, because if we accept that policy, it means that we surrender to China and are willing to become China's son,' Opposition lawmaker Keh Chien-ming said told reporters.

Lin Yu-fang, a lawmaker of the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party, said that China knew Taiwan would not accept talks because 'all Taiwanese' would 'rise up against' Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.