Posted on 04/07/2005 12:54:19 PM PDT by bloggodocio
BEIJING, (AFP) - China said it would not send a representative to Pope John Paul II's funeral in Rome to protest the presence of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian at the event.
"The Chinese side will not send a delegation to the funeral, this is my clear-cut answer," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
He further added that Chen's intention to attend the funeral was aimed at trying to create "two Chinas on the global stage."
"Chen Shui-bian will go to the Vatican to attend the funeral of the pope, but his real purpose is to engage in secessionist activities aimed at creating one China and one Taiwan, which is what we are firmly opposed to," Qin said.
China had also already expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" to the Vatican and to Italy for the issuance of Chen's visa, he said.
"We have told the Italian side to proceed from the overall interest of Sino-Italian relations and to take concrete measures to prevent the occurrence of such events," Qin said.
China's main official Catholic organization also said it would not send representatives to Rome for the same reason.
"Originally, we planned to send someone to the pope's funeral, but now we're not going," said Liu Bainian, vice chairman of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
"The decision to let Chen Shui-bian attend has hurt the feelings of the Chinese people, including five million Catholics," he told AFP.
Chen, accompanied by Foreign Minister Chen Tan-sun and three religious leaders, departed Taiwan Thursday afternoon for the pope's funeral.
The pope's death has raised fresh concerns over Taiwan's relationship with the Vatican, one of only 25 states that continue to recognize Taipei rather than Beijing.
Well as long as the legitimate government of China sends a rep who cares? ;)
The Vatican is the only nation on earth that recognises Taiwan. Shame.
Good for the ROC!
there are a few others i think, panama is one.
Only nation in Europe. There are about 20 or so others that recognize Taiwan.
I've got to wonder - did the Vatican perhaps, already, previously tell the ChiComs, via back channels "don't bother trying to attend, you won't be allow in"?
Why would communist go to a religious funeral anyhow?
Dear PRC: You won't be missed.
BTT
The PRC can go pound sand.
I am glad to see Italy and the Vatican doing the right thing. I hope that China's little temper tantrum is cordially ignored by all.
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