Taipei - Taiwan on Saturday condemned China for armed
suppression of pro-democracy movement in Tibet, saying this proves
Beijing's so-called peaceful rise was just a phony promise.
'China used military troops, police and tanks to suppress peaceful
demonstration of Tibetan people, resulting in serious clashes and
casualties,' said the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) in a statement.
'This once again indicates the notorious human rights record of
China,' it said.
Chinese authorities on Saturday deployed troops and tanks in
Lhasa, demanding that Tibetan rioters surrender to police or face
more serious punishment for the violence that claimed at least 10
lives following escalating pro-independence protests.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry also condemned the atrocity of China.
'Its claim of peaceful rise in the region is nothing but a phony
promise,' the ministry said in a separated statement.
The two government departments used the latest incident to warn
Taiwanese people against harbouring the illusion that China would
make peace with the island.
'The barbaric act of China has enabled Taiwan people to realize
that the dictatorial Chinese regime will never resolve cross-strait
problems by peaceful means,' MAC said.
Taiwan and China have been at loggerheads since the two sides
split at the end of a civil war in 1949.
Beijing, which considers Taiwan an integral part of China that
must be brought back to the Chinese fold, has repeatedly warned that
if Taiwan declares independence, it would send forces to attack the
island.
It has offered to hold peace talks with Taiwan if the island is
willing to accept the mainland's 'one China' policy.
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