China Lays Down Terms for Vatican Ties

BEIJING, APRIL 21, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Premier Wen Jiabao said that China is willing to build relations with the Vatican only if Benedict XVI breaks ties with rival Taiwan, the Associated Press reported.

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<br> »China maintains that it is willing to build relations with the Vatican based on two principles: The Vatican must recognize that there is only one China in the world, and the Vatican can’t interfere in China’s internal affairs,» Wen said at a news conference today with a visiting French official.

Wen’s reference to »one China» was based on Beijing’s insistence that Taiwan is part of its territory.

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