Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Tuesday that the one-China policy, which Australia has been upholding for 35 years, was part and parcel of Australian recognition of China as a nation.
Referring to a question about Australia's comment on Taiwan's referendum on UN membership, Smith told reporters at a press conference that Australia adheres "absolutely to our one-China policy and we are very concerned to ensure that action is not taken in Taiwan or the Taiwan Straits, which would cause concern or potential in harmony across the Straits itself."
"I told Mr. Yang that Australia regards it very much as complete inappropriate, the referendum which on Friday was approved to put the election in Taiwan. It's completely inappropriate. It is not a healthy contribution," the foreign minister said firmly at the joint press conference with his visiting Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
"It does not lead to stability, nor harmony in Northeast Asia. We would be much better off if that proposal had not been put, " he said.
Earlier in the day, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also told Yang at a meeting that his country would adhere to one-China policy and was opposed to the Taiwan referendum on UN membership.
Source: Xinhua
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