Q: During a recent State Department press conference, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the US had a One China policy and did not support "Taiwan independence"; Taiwan Authorities' "referendum" to apply to the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" was a provocative policy and promised no real benefits for the people of Taiwan; The US opposed Taiwan Authorities' "referendum on UN membership". Do you have any comment?

A: We have taken note of relevant remarks by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. China applauds the position reiterated by the United States on many occasions over its adherence to One China policy, observance to the three China-US joint communiqués, as well as opposition to "Taiwan independence" and to Taiwan Authorities' proposed "referendum on UN membership". We hope that the US would continue to take effective actions and join China in preventing the Taiwan Authorities from conducting separatist activities aiming at "Taiwan independence", including its attempt to hold a referendum on UN membership, so as to maintain the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.