China Expresses Concern Over Taiwan Instability

PRC Taiwan Affairs Office says China is monitoring the situation closely in light of the electoral dispute and battles between police and protestors.

Nearly a week after the close and still contested Taiwan presidential election, the Chinese government said it "will not look on indifferently if the current situation in Taiwan worsens and spirals out of control." Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency carried the statement from the government's Taiwan Affairs Office.

Xinhua described the statement as "strong-worded" and noted that it followed demonstrations involving thousands of protestors in Taipei.

Xinhua quoted the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office as saying, "Taiwan compatriots are as close to us as flesh and blood ... We will not sit back and look on unconcerned should the post-election situation in Taiwan get out of control, leading to social turmoil, endangering the lives and property of Taiwan compatriots and affecting stability across the Taiwan Straits."

Xinhua did not identify the spokesperson, but quoted him as saying, "We have noticed that the electoral institution of the Taiwan region has announced the (March 20) election results in disregard of strong opposition from one competing side.... "We are closely following the developments in Taiwan."

Date Posted: 3/26/2004