China's premier doesn't represent Taiwan: Cabinet

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) on Sunday warned Taiwan against separating from China under the cover of democracy during a visit to the UN headquarters in New York.

Wen met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the first day of his four-day trip to the US. After the meeting Wen told journalists that China understands the demand from Taiwan's people for democracy.

"However, the essence of the problem now is that the separatist forces within the Taiwan authorities attempt to use democracy only as a cover to split Taiwan away from China and this is what we will never tolerate," Wen said.

"As there is still a glimmer of hope, the Chinese government will not give up its efforts for a peaceful unification and a peaceful settlement," he said.

Commenting on Wen's remarks, Cabinet Spokesman Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday said that Wen does not represent the Chinese people and definitely does not represent the Taiwanese people.

"Only we can express our own voice and only we can decide our own destiny," Lin said.

Lin also expressed regret over Wen's remarks that China will not give up its efforts to launch a military attack against Taiwan.

"A civilized country doesn't resort to wars to settle international disputes," Lin said. "While he said that Beijing cannot tolerate Taiwan's engaging in separatist activities under the guise of `democratization,' we're calling on him not to provoke a war under the guise of resolving cross-strait situation."