Beijing said Tuesday accusations by Taiwan's "Vice President" Annette Lu that mainland's missile deployments amounted to terrorism were bizarre and that the Chinese government opposed anyone trying to split the island from the mainland.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao. [newsphoto.com.cn]

"No country would call actions to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity terrorism. So I think the comments of the person you mentioned are unreasonable," said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao, during Tuesday's regular news briefing in Beijing. 

"We oppose any person using any excuse or in any name splitting Taiwan from China," Liu said.

Help for Saddam Denied

The spokesman also denounced a report which claimed some Chinese exports helped Saddam Hussein design an air defence plan against the allied forces of the United States and Britain between 2002 and early 2003.

"The report is groundless and irresponsible,"  said Liu.

He said the Chinese Government has implemented the resolutions of the United Nations on the Iraq issue all along.

"The Chinese side has never had contacts in any form with the Saddam (Hussein) government in the military field since 1990 when the Gulf crisis broke out."

Liu also touched on the pressing nuclear issues. He said it is hard at present to decide when the hoped-for second round of six-party talks on the nuclear standoff in the Korean Peninsula will be held and there are still some differences among related countries.

He said China's moves toward a peaceful solution of the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have gained the support of all countries concerned.

Diplomacy "Fruitful" in 2003

On China's diplomacy in 2003, Liu said China is willing to enhance cooperation with the international community for world peace and stability. Diplomatic efforts this year are "positive, constructive and fruitful."

Liu told the press conference that China's new leadership has adhered to the independent foreign policy of peace, maintaining its continuity and stability.

At the same time, the Chinese government has progressed with the times and actively explored further development in diplomacy.

Liu said China continues to develop friendly relations with its neighbors, enhance cooperative ties with developed countries, and has made new progress in expanding friendship and cooperation with developing countries.

China earnestly fulfills its international obligations and holds international disputes should be properly settled through dialogue and talks. China has played a constructive role in dealing with major issues, strengthening international counter-terrorism cooperation and maintaining world peace and stability.

It is China's view that peace and development remain the two major themes of the present era, the spokesman said. However, non-traditional security issues, such as terrorism, environmental protection, transnational crimes and severe acute respiratory syndrome, have posed grave challenges to world peace and development. China is willing to enhance cooperation with all countries and make its due contribution to safeguarding world peace and stability.

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