On the afternoon of December 28, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao presided over a regular press conference.
Liu: Good afternoon, everyone! I would like to begin with an announcement.
At the invitation of the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Seychelles, the Republic of Madagascar and the Republic of Mauritius, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will pay official visits to the four countries from January 6th to 14th and attend the International Meeting for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States in Mauritius as the special envoy of President Hu Jintao.
Now I'm ready to take up your questions.
Q: The South Asia and Southeast Asia have been hit recently by tsunamis and earthquakes. What aids will China provide to the countries in these areas? I heard that China will also send experts to the areas for rescue, and start to deliver the relief material today. Is it just China's first batch of relief material?
A: The Chinese Government and people express their sympathy and solicitude for the relevant countries and their people who suffered from the great loss brought by the recent earthquakes and tsunamis, and their deep condolences for those who died in the calamity. The Chinese people share grief with the people in those disaster-hit countries. The Chinese Government has decided to provide aids to relevant countries within its capacity. As I inquired from the Ministry of Commerce, China will provide emergent aids worth 2163 RMB to relevant countries, including foods, tents and blankets. Just as you mentioned, some of the materials will be delivered this afternoon, and some tomorrow. We are keeping in touch and consulting with these countries on concrete measures. I believe these materials will help the rescue work of relevant countries.
Some of the materials will start to be delivered at four this afternoon. The International Press Center of the Foreign Ministry has informed you to make reports. If more information about the aids is available, I will let you know in time.
Follow-up: Is China going to dispatch any rescue team to the disaster areas?
A: As far as I know, China's international rescue team is standing by. The dispatch depends on whether these countries have such demand on China.
Q: It is reported that the Japanese Government has decided to permit Dalai's visit to Japan on condition that he doesn't engage in any political activities. What's your comment?
A: Currently, the China-Japan relations have encountered some difficulties in the political aspect. Among them, there are the history issue as well as the Taiwan question surfacing recently. We have taken note of the report you mentioned, and required the Japanese side to make clarification.
Q: Yesterday Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson commented on Japan's permission for Lee Teng-hui's visit, and pointed out that the Chinese side reserves the right to take further actions. Can you tell us under what circumstance the Chinese side will take further actions?
A: I have to reiterate that China is strongly dissatisfied with the Japanese Government's wrong decision of permitting Lee Teng-hui's trip to the country regardless of the repeated solemn representations and firm opposition by the Chinese side. China's Foreign Ministry has lodged a strong protest to the Japanese Government over the issue.
Lee Teng-hui is the chief representative of the radical force for "Taiwan's independence" on the Taiwan Island and an out-and-out troublemaker in the international arena. The Japanese Government is conniving with and supporting the "Taiwan independence" force and has sent it another wrong signal by permitting Lee's entry into Japan. This has undermined the political foundation of China-Japan relations.
China solemnly requires the Japanese side to value the overall situation of China-Japan relations, and take effective measures to remove the bad impact of the issue. China will closely follow the development of the situation and reserve the right to take further actions.
Q: The year to come marks the 60th anniversary of the victory of the World War Ⅱ, which China may also call the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan or the Anti-Fascism War. Nearly 60 years flied by since the end of the War. However, the problems left over by the War, such as forced labor, comfort women, the Unit 731's germ warfare, are yet to be resolved. What measures does China expect the Japanese side to take to resolve these war legacies at the 60th anniversary?
A: Just now, you spoke of a couple of names in one breath. The Second World War, the Resistance War against Japan, or the Anti-Fascism War, whatever you may call, is a just war by the people around the world against the war starters for the sake of safeguarding peace and promoting development of the world. From another perspective, the war is also an evil one against the good and righteous people in the world by the war starters. We solemnly condemn the war. At the advent of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the next year, people of all countries will draw lessons from their retrospect of history and cherish peace all the more.
All the problems left over from Japan's aggression war, such as forced labor, abandoned chemical weapons and comfort women, are grave crimes committed by Japan in its aggression against China. The Japanese side holds the responsibility to properly handle the issues.
Q: The next year is the 110th anniversary of the China-Japan War between 1894 and 1895. It was exactly the war that forced China to concede Taiwan to Japan. The same year also marks the 90th anniversary of the humiliating Twenty-one Demands that surrendered China's sovereignty. In 1940, that is, 65 years ago, Japan set up a puppet government in Manchuria. Japan's half-century aggression against China has gone for 60 years. Will China use these landmark days next year? This year, China-Japan relations, though economically good, is marred by political rancor. What steps will China take in the next year to improve China-Japan relations?
A: Thank you for your study over China's history. Since the ancient days, Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China. Japan started a half-century long occupation and colonial rule of Taiwan since the Shimonoseky Treaty in 1895. In 1945, the Cairo Declaration and other international documents stipulated that all the territories Japan had stolen from other countries should be restored to those countries. Since then, Taiwan has ridded itself of Japan's rule and returned to its motherland.
On the history issue, including the issue of Taiwan's history, we advocate the principle of "taking history as a mirror and look forward into the future", and believe that the lessons of history should be learned well. China and Japan are two important neighbors and share a long history of friendly exchanges. Since the normalization of the relations between our two countries, our relations have been on the whole developing rather smoothly, and friendly cooperation has been conducted in such fields as politics, economy and personnel exchanges, bringing about tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Of course, the world has undergone many changes, so have China and Japan. But the friendship between our two countries will serve the interests of Chinese and Japanese people and benefit the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region as well as the world at large. This truth has not changed. China-Japan friendship depends on the joint efforts of the two countries, instead of on China alone. Now, our relations are facing some difficulties, in particular, on the questions of history and Taiwan. We hope the Japanese side to proceed from the overall picture of China-Japan friendship and properly handle the relevant questions, so as to ensure the smooth, healthy and steady progress of China-Japan relations and thus benefit the people of our two countries, including our future generations. In this way, we will also make contributions to the peace and stability in this region as well as the world.
Follow-up: Can you explain the meaning of "properly handle the relevant questions"? Please talk more about how to improve China-Japan relations from the view of China?
A: The question of history in our relations is reflected in many aspects, such as the visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by the Japanese leader. But the core of the question is how the Japanese side correctly treats the history of that period. Japan has admitted that the war waged by it had caused untold scourges to the Asian peoples, with the Chinese people included. Japan should have remorse over the past and take it as a lesson. The Japanese leaders have also said that the younger generation in their country should be aware of this. In this regard, Japan should not give only lip service. It should prove in deeds that the Japanese side has realized the gravity of the question of history and the scourges brought about to the people in China and the Asia-Pacific region by the history in that period. It should show its correct attitude towards the question with earnest moves. On the Taiwan question, Japan should as well take earnest moves. It should abide by the three documents between our two countries, honor its commitments on the Taiwan question, adhere to the one China policy and recognize that there's but one China in the world and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the entire China. It should not support the "Taiwan independence" in any form.
Q: Has China's Foreign Ministry got the exact figure of China's casualties and missing citizens in the tsunami?
A: I would like to brief you on the casualties of China's citizens in the tsunami. According to our embassy in Thailand and consulate-general in Song Khla, seven injured Chinese tourists have been found so far. All of them are under medical care in a hospital near the Phuket Island. As far as I know, their lives are not in danger. Only some of them suffer more serious injuries.
Meanwhile, since the disaster broke out, we have been much concerned about the safety of our compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in those countries, and instructed our diplomatic missions to look into the losses of them in the disaster and extend necessary aids to them. Some Taiwan people have requested our missions to help them out with their travel certificates problems. Our missions have responded with necessary assistance. I learned that one of the Taiwan compatriots died unfortunately. We express our condolences on his death.
Q: Some Taiwan residents have sought assistances from Chinese embassies and consulates in these disaster-stricken countries. What kind of assistances do they seek?
A: It is about travel certificates.
Q: The restarted Ukrainian election has yielded its result. But the two sides still have controversy over the outcome. What comment do you have on this issue?
A: Ukraine is China's friendly country. We have taken note of the tally outcome of the rerun Presidential election released by the Ukrainian Central Election Commission. The Chinese side respects the choice of the Ukrainian people.
Q: On Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, the Chinese side demanded Japan not to permit Lee's political activities. Do you think this demand has been met? How do you define "political activity"?
A: As I said just now, we are keeping a close watch on the development of the situation.
Q: How many Chinese citizens were in the disaster-stricken area when the earthquake hit South Asia?
A: It is still quite difficult to make a count now, since many Chinese tourists organized by traveling agencies were touring there, and some people were doing business as well.
Q: As the year of 2004 is about to end, can you tell us the major goals of China's diplomacy for next year?
A: Throughout the year of 2004, China's diplomacy has made contribution to maintaining the world peace and promoting common development and also created a sound international environment for China's economic development and its goal for building up a well-off society across the board. Next year, China will continue to move ahead the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation featured by equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation, stabilize and develop its relations with the developed countries, and deepen and enhance our solidarity and cooperation with developing countries. We will constantly raise our capability of coping with changing international situations and handling international affairs, so as to better serve the goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way, and the great cause of achieving our national reunification. We will do more good to bring about real benefits for the people and make greater contribution to safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and pushing forward mutually-beneficial cooperation.
Q: After Lee Teng-hui visited Japan in 1991, China cancelled many leaders' visit plans to Japan. What measures will the Chinese side take this time?
A: I have stated the solemn position on many occasions of the Chinese Government on Japan's permission of Lee Teng-hui's visit. We are still keeping a close eye on the development of the situation. I have no more information to offer you.
If there no more questions, let's call it a day! Thank you!
