- BEIJING (Reuters) - China
described the Sino-U.S. relationship on Thursday as one of the world's
most influential and volatile, threatened by the "ambiguous"
U.S. policy toward Taiwan.
-
- In an article published just days before Premier Wen
Jiabao visits the United States, the official China Daily quoted diplomats
as saying relations were at an all-time high but added that it was risky
to forecast trends.
-
- "The ambiguous U.S. strategy across the Taiwan Straits
only serves to encourage the island's separatists and jeopardize the one-China
policy as well as the political foundation of Sino-U.S. relations,"
the newspaper said.
-
- The parliament in Taiwan, which China considers a renegade
province, votes on Thursday on whether the island should have the right
to hold referendums -- a bill that China has strongly condemned as a step
toward a declaration of independence.
-
- Washington shifted its diplomatic recognition to China
from Taiwan in 1979. It routinely says it backs the "one-China"
policy and does not support Taiwan independence.
-
- But the United States remains the island's biggest ally
and arms supplier.
-
- Beijing and Taipei split at the end of a civil war in
1949.
-
- Last week, China urged the United States to stop selling
weapons to Taiwan and honor its commitment to the "one-China"
policy.
-
- "Only by doing so can the interests of both China
and the United States be safeguarded and peace and stability across the
Taiwan Straits be maintained," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
-
- China told Taiwan it ran the risk of war if it pushed
toward independence.
-
- The China Daily also said China and the United States
shared many trade and strategic interests. Beijing had promoted six-party
talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis and supported the U.S.-led
war on terrorism.
-
- China and the United States "remain different in
many ways but never before have they been so closely bound together,"
it said.
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