Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Xu Caihou (R) meets with William Owens, former deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States Armed Forces, in Beijing, China, on February 20, 2008. Xu said at the meeting the United States should see clearly the essence and risk of "Taiwan independence." (Xinhua Photo)

The United States should see clearly the essence and risk of "Taiwan independence", Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Xu Caihou said in Beijing on Wednesday.

He made the remarks in a meeting with a US delegation of retired generals led by William Owens, former deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US armed forces.

Xu said recently Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian had frantically pushed for "referendum on UN membership" and "Taiwan independence" that seriously threatened the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the mutual interests of China and the United States.

China appreciated US President George W. Bush's and the US government's repeated one-China position and hoped the United States would stop keeping official and military contact with Taiwan. It also hoped the US would stop selling weapons to Taiwan so as not to send wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities, he said.

Xu said the current Sino-US relations have maintained a sound momentum and ties between their respective armed forces have developed smoothly.

China supported exchanges between retired generals of the two armed forces and would make joint efforts with the United States to expand cooperation. This would increase the positive factors of China-US constructive and cooperative relations, he added.

Owens said the United States and China should develop a sound relationship and make the utmost efforts to push forward bilateral ties.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)