29 August 2006
THE Chinese government will officially complain to the Zambian Government over remarks made by Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata that Taiwan is a sovereign state.
The Chinese government is not happy and described Mr Sata's remarks as dangerous because they had seriously damaged the traditional friendship between Zambia and China.
Counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Lusaka, Du Yiping, said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Sata's remarks had interfered in the internal affairs of China.
The Patriotic Front (PF) leader said at the weekend that Taiwan was a sovereign state and that Zambia owed China nothing because everything that China had done for Zambia had been paid for.
Mr Du, however, said Mr Sata's remarks had hurt the feelings of the over 1.3 billion Chinese people. He said the remarks by Mr Sata had also run against the one-China policy, which had been pursued by the successive Zambian administrations and supported by the Zambian people.
Mr Du said it was the hope of the Chinese government that Mr Sata would act responsibly as a politician seeking to rule Zambia.
"Mr Sata, one of the presidential candidates of Zambia's tripartite elections this year has made some dangerous remarks on the question of Taiwan, which has seriously damaged the traditional friendship between China and Zambia.
"We solemnly condemn Mr Sata's irresponsible remarks and we are deeply concerned over the remarks," Mr Du said.
There was only one China in the World, and Taiwan was an inalienable part of its territory, which had been widely recognised by an overwhelming majority of countries in the world.
Mr Du said China and Zambia were countries with long friendly cooperation and the friendship had withstood the test of time.
He said the bilateral cooperation in all fields was becoming closer and closer but that his government was considering making a formal complaint to Government.
Mr Sata at the weekend said Taiwan was a sovereign state and should be recognised as such.
Earlier at the Lusaka international airport shortly before departure for Zimbabwe yesterday, President Mwanawasa said the Zambian Government supported the one-China policy and if there were politicians wishing to change this status if elected into office, then this was a matter for Zambians to decide.
Asked to comment on politicians against the one China policy and the recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state, Mr Mwanawasa told journalists that Zambia's position over the matter was well known.
"The position of Government is well known over the China-Taiwan issue. Our stand is that we support the one -China policy but obviously it is a political issue if certain people wish to change this stand, Zambians will decide," Mr Mwanawasa said.
He also acknowledged that second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba would be evacuated to South Africa for his medical treatment at Government expense and wished the former Head of State quick recovery.
On his Zimbabwe mission, Mr Mwanawasa said he would hold talks with counterparts Robert Mugabe, Botswana's Festus Mogae to resolve the position over problems of the Kazungula bridge.
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