BEIJING, June 29 (UPI) -- The Chinese mainland government office dealing with Taiwan on Wednesday rejected the idea that Hu Jintao and Chen Shui-bian could meeting in the United States.
Li Weiyi, spokesman from the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said, "Taiwan is an internal issue of the Chinese people, so any such meeting should only occur on our own soil."
The spokesman made the remark in response to a recent statement by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian saying he was willing to meet his mainland counterpart Hu Jintao in the United States.
Analysts note Chen's statement reflects the important position and balancing act the United States plays between the two sides. On one hand the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act from Congress ensures the defense of the island against a mainland attack. Conversely, U.S. leaders do not want to encourage Taiwan independence.
Li also reiterated that the PRC is ready to talk with all individuals and political parties about improving cross-strait relations and promoting peaceful reunification on the condition "they accept the one-China principle and the '1992 Consensus' that embodies the one-China principle."
