WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 Kyodo The Unit...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 Kyodo

The United States forward Monday reiterated the one-China policy in replication to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's language over the weekend suggesting that a referendum could be held forward Taiwan's independence from China.

''The United States policy, which is a long-standing the same is a one-China policy, and our policy has not changed at all,'' said Phillip Reeker factor spokesman of the State Department.

''The issues between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are matters to be resolv on the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,'' Reeker added.

Reeker emphasized a peaceful resolution between Taiwan and China.

Reeker was responding to Chen's words Saturday via the Internet to a assemblage of pro-independence Taiwanese in Tokyo in which he said that ''each side of the Taiwan Strait is a separate country'' and that his administration will ''consider mulling legislation for a referendum to determine the island's future''

Chen's articulate utterance appears to mark a departure from his previous avoidance of arousing discussion with Beijing over Taiwan's status.

At his inauguration forward May 2000 he had promised not to push for a referendum if China renounces the threat of force against Taiwan.

onward Monday afternoon, China weighed into the process in law with a statement highly critical of steady the suggestion of independence in which it accused Chen of ''seriously damaging cross-strait ties.''

The statement also called Chen's tongue ''an outward provocation to all Chinese persons including the Taiwan compatriots, and a provocation to the internationally acknowledged 'one-China' principle'.''

Beijing regards Taiwan, which has been rul separately since the fall of the curtain of the Chinese civil war in 1949 as a renegade province that must be reclaimed, according to military force if necessary.

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