The United States, in response to the latest round of
"de-sinicizing" moves by the Taiwan authorities, reiterated its
position on Friday that it does not support Taiwan
independence.
The "de-sinicizing" moves include schemes to eliminate the words
“China” or “Chinese” from company names.
"We do not support administrative steps by the Taiwan
authorities that would appear to change Taiwan's status
unilaterally or move toward independence. The United States does
not, for instance, support changes in terminology for entities
administered by the Taiwan authorities," said the US State
Department in a statement.
The statement reiterated that the United States does not support
Taiwan independence.
The State Department also noted that Chen Shui-bian has
repeatedly said he would not allow either inside or outside
pressure to alter the pledges of "Four Noes" he made upon taking
office in 2000, namely no declaration of Taiwan independence, no
incorporation of the "two states" remarks into the "constitution,"
no change of the province's name and no referendum on "Taiwan
Independence."
Whether Chen will fulfill his commitments will be "a test of
leadership," the statement said.
Chen announced on February 8 that the Taiwan authorities will
remove the words "China" or "Chinese" from the names of the
island's "government-run" organizations, enterprises and relevant
laws and regulations. The Taiwan authorities' new round of
"de-sinicizing" moves has sparked a chorus of protests on the
island.
(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2007)