Order of the President of the People's Republic of
China
No. 34
The Anti-Secession Law, adopted at the Third Session of the Tenth National People's
Congress of the People's Republic of China on March 14, 2005, is hereby
promulgated and shall go into effect as of the date of promulgation.
Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
March 14, 2005
The following is the full text of
the Anti-Secession Law adopted at the Third Session of the Tenth National
People's Congress Monday:
Anti-Secession Law
(Adopted at the Third
Session of the Tenth National People's Congress on March 14, 2005)
Article 1 This Law is formulated, in accordance with the Constitution, for
the purpose of opposing and checking Taiwan's secession from China by
secessionists in the name of "Taiwan independence", promoting peaceful national
reunification, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, preserving
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguarding the fundamental
interests of the Chinese nation.
Article 2 There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan
belong to one China. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no
division. Safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity is the
common obligation of all Chinese people, the Taiwan compatriots included.
Taiwan is part of China. The state shall never allow the "Taiwan
independence" secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any
name or by any means.
Article 3 The Taiwan question is one that is left over from China's civil war
of the late 1940s.
Solving the Taiwan question and achieving national reunification is China's
internal affair, which subjects to no interference by any outside forces.
Article 4 Accomplishing the great task of reunifying the motherland is the
sacred duty of all Chinese people, the Taiwan compatriots included.
Article 5 Upholding the principle of one China is the basis of peaceful
reunification of the country.
To reunify the country through peaceful means best serves the fundamental
interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. The state
shall do its utmost with maximum sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification.
After the country is reunified peacefully, Taiwan may practice systems
different from those on the mainland and enjoy a high degree of autonomy.
Article 6 The state shall take the following measures to maintain peace and
stability in the Taiwan Straits and promote cross-Straits relations:
(1) to encourage and facilitate personnel exchanges across the Straits for
greater mutual understanding and mutual trust;
(2) to encourage and facilitate economic exchanges and cooperation, realize
direct links of trade, mail and air and shipping services, and bring about
closer economic ties between the two sides of the Straits to their mutual
benefit;
(3) to encourage and facilitate cross-Straits exchanges in education,
science, technology, culture, health and sports, and work together to carry
forward the proud Chinese cultural traditions;
(4) to encourage and facilitate cross-Straits cooperation in combating
crimes; and
(5) to encourage and facilitate other activities that are conducive to peace
and stability in the Taiwan Straits and stronger cross-Straits relations.
The state protects the rights and interests of the Taiwan compatriots in
accordance with law.
Article 7 The state stands for the achievement of peaceful reunification
through consultations and negotiations on an equal footing between the two sides
of the Taiwan Straits. These consultations and negotiations may be conducted in
steps and phases and with flexible and varied modalities.
The two sides of the Taiwan Straits may consult and negotiate on the
following matters:
(1) officially ending the state of hostility between the two sides;
(2) mapping out the development of cross-Straits relations;
(3) steps and arrangements for peaceful national reunification;
(4) the political status of the Taiwan authorities;
(5) the Taiwan region's room of international operation that iscompatible
with its status; and
(6) other matters concerning the achievement of peaceful national
reunification.
Article 8 In the event that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces
should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's
secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from
China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be
completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other
necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The State Council and the Central Military Commission shall decide on and
execute the non-peaceful means and other necessary measures as provided for in
the preceding paragraph and shall promptly report to the Standing Committee of
the National People'sCongress.
Article 9 In the event of employing and executing non-peaceful means and
other necessary measures as provided for in this Law, the state shall exert its
utmost to protect the lives, property and other legitimate rights and interests
of Taiwan civilians and foreign nationals in Taiwan, and to minimize losses. At
the same time, the state shall protect the rights and interests of the Taiwan
compatriots in other parts of China in accordance with law.
Article 10 This Law shall come into force on the day of its
promulgation.
