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China Tells US Not to Promote Taiwan Independence
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1680A08:A6F02AD83191E160958154F96FBA5FA69574F7DCC14957C0 China says Taiwan
separatists pose a major threat to peace and stability in Taiwan
Strait China has urged the United States to refrain from sending the
wrong signals to





U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte speaks to reporters
during a press conference in Beijing, 4 March 2007supporters of Taiwan
independence.

China's official Xinhua news agency says State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan
told U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte Sunday that the
activities of Taiwan separatists pose a major threat to peace and
stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Negroponte met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing earlier
Sunday.

On Saturday, two Chinese vice foreign ministers, Yang Jiechi and Dai
Bingguo, met Negroponte and expressed Beijing's firm opposition to
U.S. plans to sell weapons to Taiwan.

The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced plans to sell Taiwan
hundreds of air-to-air and ground-to-air missiles for $421 million.

China and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war. But Beijing still
considers Taiwan a renegade province, and has threatened to use force
against the island if it formally declares independence.

The U.S. says it is opposed to Taiwan taking steps toward
independence, but has pledged to defend the island if China carries
out its military threat.

Negroponte arrived in China Saturday for a three-day visit. He began
his Asian tour Friday in Japan. He next heads to South Korea.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.




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