8-Letter from the Embassy of the People's
Republic of China
I have read the East Asia Report recently published
by the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) of the House of Commons
of the UK and noticed that the Report focuses mainly on China,
though it covers various aspects of the development in East Asia.
As a Political Counselor of the Embassy, I feel obliged to express
my views on it to you and your colleagues.
I appreciate the Report makes some objective
comments on China, especially on China's economic development
I feel pleased to notice it makes some positive conclusions, for
example, it concludes that the British Government should develop
closer links and cooperation with China. However, I have to point
out that some conclusions and suggestions are not constructive
for the further development of China-UK relations.
I would like to take few conclusions and recommendations
from the report and bring Chinese positions on these issues to
your attention. I hope my explanations could help the FAC to understand
China better.
Wang Shuying
Political Counselor
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
11 October 2006
Annex 1
I. REGARDING
TAIWAN ISSUE
The Report concludes that "Chinese military
build-up across the Taiwan Straits threatens peace and stability
in East Asia". It recommends the British Government to increase
contacts with Taiwan at a political level.
China persists in taking the road of peaceful
development. Its development is conducive to the regional peace
and stability.
The Chinese Government adheres to the basic
principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two
systems" in handling the Taiwan issue. The purpose of our
policies is to oppose and check secession of Taiwan from China,
to promote the development of cross-straits relations, to maintain
peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and to achieve
the peaceful reunification of China.
The "One China" principle is a political
foundation of China-UK relations, which was agreed by our two
countries when the diplomatic relation was established. It would
be against the basic principle should the British Government develop
political contacts with the Taiwan Authorities.
II. REGARDING
TIBET ISSUE
It concludes the Chinese assertion that Dalai
Lama advocates Tibetan independence flies in the face of public
statements made by Dalai Lama and recommends the British Government
to continue to press the Chinese Government to allow Dalai Lama
to return to Tibet in his capacity as a spiritual leader.
It concludes that Beijing's insistence on controlling
the appointment of the next Panchen Lama is a serious abuse of
the freedom of religion and recommends the British Government
to press for the recognition by the Chinese of the right of Tibetan
religious leaders and to choose the nest Panchen Lama according
to their religious beliefs and practices.
It concludes that freedom of religious belief
and worship in Tibet remains significantly restricted and recommends
the British Government to continue to press this issue with its
Chinese counterparts, emphasizing the beneficial influence which
religious freedom can have on social cohesion.
Actually Dalai Lama is not only a religious
figure, but a political exile engaged in separatist activities.
The door for negotiation is always open as long as Dalai Lama
truly renounces the ambition of seeking Tibet independence, gives
up any separatist activities and publicly recognizes Tibet and
Taiwan are inalienable parts of China and the Government of the
People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing
China.
The Chinese Government respects and safeguards
the freedom of religious belief. The Panchen Lama's appointment
should be made after lot-drawing from a Gold Urn and approved
by the Central Government of China according to the established
religious rituals and historical conventions of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Central Government and the local government
of Tibet signed the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation
of Tibet on 23 May 1951, which explicitly stipulated "The
policy of freedom of religious belief shall be carried out in
Tibet. The religious beliefs, customs and habits of the Tibetan
people shall be protected, and lamaseries shall be protected."
The Central Government and governments in Tibet at various levels
have since been doing as promised. They respect and protect various
religious activities according to the law. This makes it possible
for religious believers and people who do not hold any religious
belief, and the various sects of Tibetan Buddhism, to live in
harmony.
III. REGARDING
HONG KONG
ISSUE
It concludes the package of constitutional changes
presented by the Chief Executive in December 2005 was a very limited
measure which did not go far enough towards the introduction of
representative democracy and universal suffrage.
It recommends the British Government urge the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to make significant and
major steps towards representative democracy and to agree with
Beijing on a timetable by which the direct election of the Chief
Executive and LegCo by universal suffrage will be achieved.
Since Hong Kong returned to China, the Central
Government of China has been strictly abiding by the Basic Law
and fully supporting the Government of the HKSAR in performing
their duties by law. Such guidelines as "one country, two
systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong"
and a "high degree of autonomy" have all been fully
and successfully implemented. The Central Government supports
the gradual development of democracy in light of Hong Kong's real
situation on the basis of the Basic Law.
The HKSAR is continuing to maintain stability
and prosperity. And its political structure is developing steadily
in line with the stipulations of the Basic Law and local people
are enjoying increasing democracy and basic human rights. This
fact is not only widely recognized by the Hong Kong people, but
also fully acknowledged by the international community.
IV. REGARDING
XINJIANG ISSUE
It concludes the Chinese repressive policies
in Xinjiang are reprehensible.
China is a united multi-ethnic country. Xinjiang
is one of the five ethnic autonomous regions in China where organs
of self-governing are established for the exercise of autonomy.
The Central Government of China has made great efforts to enhance
the relationship of equality, unity and mutual assistance among
different ethnic groups and to accelerate the development of ethnic
autonomous regions. With the support of the Central Government
Xinjiang is now in its best development period, which features
political stability, fast economic development, stable social
order, unity of various ethnic groups, and local people living
and working in peace and contentment.
V. REGARDING
HUMAN RIGHTS
It recommends the British Government to press
the Chinese Government to revoke the Regulations Concerning Foreign
Journalists and Permanent Offices of Foreign News Agencies before
the 2008 Olympic Games, to relax its censorship of the internet
and its restrictions on the political content of their pages,
to introduce legislation prohibiting courts from accepting evidence
procured through torture, to addresses Re-education Through Labour
etc.
Since the reform and opening up, Chinese media
and internet have gone through rapid development. Chinese people
can now obtain information in a much easier and more convenient
manner. We support the healthy and orderly development of internet
and have issued relevant regulations in order to protect the rights
and interests of the general public.
The Chinese government protects the rights of
Chinese and foreign journalists to report in China and makes great
efforts to facilitate their work. Journalists should also abide
by local laws and regulations.
Torture is regarded as severe crime in China.
Chinese law strictly prohibits the practice of forcing confessions
through torture. Chinese procurators' institutions have set up
special offices and assigned special personnel in prisons and
detention centers to inspect and supervise whether suspects and
prisoners are subject to cruel punishment or other abuses. Chinese
law implements the "illegal evidence exclusion principle,"
that is, evidence obtained by torture, threatening or cheating
could not be used as evidence for penalties. Chinese lawmakers
will continue to monitor irregular behaviors in judicial areas,
such as extracting confession through torture, illegally prolonged
detention, unaffordable litigation fee and insufficient implementation
of court's ruling.
Re-education through labor is not a criminal
penalty, but a kind of administrative detention enacted to carry
out compulsory reform through education for those who have committed
minor offences or anti-social behaviors which are not eligible
for punishment in accordance with criminal law. Its main purpose
is to transform them into self-reliant people as well as to maintain
public security, and to prevent and reduce crimes. With regard
to people who need reeducation through labor, their cases should
be approved by commissions in charge of reeducation through labor
affiliated to the people's governments at the provincial level,
at the level of municipalities directly under the Central Government
or at the level of large and medium-size cities. The duration
of reeducation through labor normally should not exceed one year.
Those people under reeducation through labor enjoy the right of
voting, freedom of religion, personal dignity etc. Their legal
property and freedom of communication are protected by law.
VI. REGARDING
CHINA'S
FOREIGN POLICIES
It concludes the growing links between Russia
and China may signal the emergence of an authoritarian bloc opposed
to democracy and Western values in Eurasia. The Shanghai Co-operation
Organization has the potential to evolve into an alliance of authoritarian
powers opposed to the West and may aid China's efforts to establish
control over Central Asian energy reserves.
It concludes China's policy towards resources
threatens the market-based mechanisms on which Western states
rely for supply and Beijing's attitude to business with states
which the international community has condemned for their behaviors
damages efforts to uphold international standards in human rights
and good governance.
It recommends the British Government work within
the EU to maintain the arms embargo on China.
China and Russia are committed to develop the
long-term and stable good-neighborly relations of friendship and
mutually beneficially cooperation between the two countries on
the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting
at any third country.
The purposes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
are strengthening mutual trust and good-neighborly relations among
member states, promoting their effective cooperation in various
fields like political, trade, energy, environment protection etc;
jointly safeguarding and preserving regional peace, security and
stability; striving towards creation of a democratic, just, reasonable
new international political and economic order. The fact proves
that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is conducive to the
regional peace and stability.
China will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful
development. Its policy on resources is also based on market-based
mechanisms. China is willing to make joint efforts with the rest
of the world to create a harmonious world with everlasting peace
and common prosperity.
China and African countries have treated each
other with sincerity and enjoyed mutual support. The cooperation
is conducted on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, safeguarding
sovereignty and independence, promoting social and economic development.
China is committed to peaceful development. Africa is committed
to achieving stability and rejuvenation. Stronger ties between
China and Africa will contribute to South-South cooperation and
international peace and development.
The Chinese Government has repeatedly elaborated
on China's position on the removal of EU's arms embargo against
China. It is a kind of political discrimination against China
and not in line of the good relations between China and EU. The
out-dated embargo should have long been removed. The early removal
is conducive to further development of China-EU relations.
GIFTING OF EQUIPMENT
| 
