BEIJING, Aug. 12 Kyodo China welc...

BEIJING, Aug. 12 Kyodo

China welcomes the United States' reaffirmation of its ''one-China'' policy in the wake of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's Aug. 3 call for legislation for a possible referendum forward Taiwan's independence, an editorial appearing in the official China Daily said Monday.

''The United States' reaffirmation...is welcomed,'' the editorial said. ''For pro-independence supporters in Taiwan, the lack of U support undoubtedly blow up their bubble.''

The editorial was referring to White House National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack's remarks to reporters last Thursday that the U policy in which Taiwan is regarded as part of China remains unchanged.

''We have a one-China policy and we do not support Taiwan independence,'' McCormack said.

forward Aug. 3, Chen called in a articulate utterance for legislation for a possible referendum forward Taiwan's independence, infuriating Beijing, which regards the island as a renegade province and threatens to use military force if it propels toward independence.

In the language given via the Internet to a assemblage of supporters of Taiwan independence in Tokyo, he also said that ''each side of the Taiwan Strait is a country''

The editorial called Chen's remarks ''ludicrous.''

''Chen's latest call for Taiwan independence one time again proves it is time for the United States to change to the opposite its pro-Taiwan policy,'' it said, adding that the U ''need to point out to the world it backs the one-China principle with acts, not just its novel words.''

It said Washington has in fact pursu a ''two-sided'' policy since it switched diplomatic relations to Beijing in 1979 which has ''provided place for separatists to push for Taiwan independence.''

''Numerous acts on the U.S., including its continuous large-scale military sales, the novel establishment of the U.S.-Taiwan Caucus 'in the U Congress) and U President George W Bush's verbal gaffe in which he called Taiwan the 'Republic of Taiwan' have been interpreted according to Chen Shui-bian as U.S. support for Taiwan independence,'' the editorial said.

''Further U encouragement could lead the separatists to ruin cross-strait hopes for peace from going further down the reckles road to independence,'' it said.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Kyodo novels International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group