China's peace organization appreciates JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa's suggestion on Taiwan

Huan Guoying, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD), in a meeting with Japanese Communist Party International Bureau Director Ogata Yasuo on March 30, appreciated the JCP position concerning the Taiwan question.

Huan was leading a CPAPD delegation visiting Japan from March 27 to April 2 and held discussions with the Japan Peace Committee and the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo).

In the discussion with Ogata, who is a JCP member of the House of Councilors, Huan referred to JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo's call for close attention to be paid to what Taiwanese are saying about the Taiwan question. "This suggestion is of great significance. We do not want to see tension grow in the Taiwan Strait," he said.

Fuwa suggested this in his April 2000 talks with Zeng Qinghong, Communist Party of China Central Organization Department head, and revealed it in a discussion with Ogata, which was printed in the Sunday Akahata's 2001 New Year issue.

On the Taiwan issue, Huan said that although there is no change in China's fundamental policy, they changed the wording from "the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China, and Taiwan is part of China" to "There is only one China, and both the PRC and Taiwan make up China," which was first stated last January by Qian Qishen, vice premier. "This was not an easy change, but we've done it in the hope that we'll be able to gain the sympathy of Taiwan's people," he said.

In the talks, Huan spoke about questions of the international situation, especially China's views on the U.S. Bush administration, the Taiwan question, tasks for peace, and China's economy.

Ogata referred to the tasks for peace and the recent U.S. visit by Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro.

Huan thanked the JCP for taking an appropriate attitude toward the Taiwan question and maintaining a correct historic view on the past war of aggression. Criticizing the U.S. development of the national missile defense (NMD) program, she stressed that such a policy must be withdrawn.

Touching on P.M. Mori's favorable response to the U.S. NMD program in his recent talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, Ogata said such an escalation in Japan-U.S. military cooperation is threatening peace in Asia. Ogata and Huan shared an idea that if peace organizations of both countries make joint efforts, it will help consolidate peaceful tides in Asia and the rest of the world.

The Chinese delegation visited Japan at the invitation of the Japan Peace Committee and the Japan Council against A and H Bombs. (end)