TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) 鈥� Any changes to the China-Taiwan relationship must come about peacefully, a visiting German lawmaker said Monday, two days after China's ruling Communist Party wrote its rejection of Taiwan independence into its charter.
A German parliamentary delegation focusing on human rights met Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at her office on Monday. The lawmakers expressed interest in how Taiwan would handle threats from China.
鈥淭aiwan is really facing military threats," delegation head Peter Heidt said. 鈥淔rom Germany鈥檚 point of view, changes to the cross-strait status quo, if any, must be based on peaceful means. Also, these changes must be made after both sides have reached a consensus.鈥�
China claims Taiwan as its territory and says the self-governing island about 160 kilometers (100 miles) off its east coast must come under its control.
The Chinese Communist Party, on the last day of a major congress that confirmed a third five-year term for leader , inserted a statement into the party constitution on Saturday 鈥渞esolutely opposing and deterring separatists" seeking Taiwan's independence.
鈥淲e note Xi Jinping鈥檚 intimidation against Taiwan in China鈥檚 20th party congress. We also note the reaction of mainland China after Pelosi visited Taiwan,鈥� he said, referring to the large-scale held after the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in July.
Tsai did not refer to the amending of the Communist Party's constitution in her remarks. But her government's Mainland Affairs Council issued a statement Saturday urging China to break away from the mindset of confronting or even conquering the island, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.
The statement said their differences should be resolved in a peaceful manner.
At the opening of China's weeklong party congress, Xi said Beijing would continue to strive for peaceful 鈥渞eunification鈥� with Taiwan but refused to renounce the possible use of force. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war.
Taiwan鈥檚 Mainland Affairs Council responded that the island's 23 million people have the right to decide their own future and urged Beijing to stop imposing its political framework and its military coercion.
The German delegation arrived on Sunday and was expected to leave on Wednesday. It is the second German parliamentary group visiting Taiwan this month.
The Associated Press
