Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian is reportedly scheduled to leave Taipei on a chartered flight on August 29 and planning to stop in Hawaii on his way to Panama. During his return flight on September 5, he is scheduled to stop in Seattle before heading home.

Prior to arranging this schedule, Chen reportedly sent Chiou I-jen, secretary-general of Taiwan's "national security council" to Washington to arrange for a stop in Chicago during Chen's trip to the Central American countries of Panama and Belize in late August.

He also reportedly asked to stop over in New York, Houston or Miami.

The layover is "an excuse to conduct activities splitting China and sabotaging China-US relations, a trick they have consistently been using," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan on Thursday.

"We urge the US to abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués and related commitments, not to conduct any official dealings and contacts with Taiwan, not to allow important Taiwan political figures to use 'stopovers' as an excuse to engage in separatist activities," Kong said.

Kong also urged the US to support Sino-US relations with concrete action.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Council also indicated a desire for the United States to maintain its commitment to the mainland on the Taiwan issue, which Jia described as the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-US relations.

Jia made the statement when meeting with visiting former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich in Beijing on Thursday.

Jia said Sino-US relations will continue to progress as long as both sides proceed from a strategic and long-term view. He discussed the importance of adhering to the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, increasing communication and understanding and developing a constructive, long-term relationship.

Gingrich referred to US-China relations as one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, and noted that the common interests of the two countries are growing.

He stated that he had gained further insight into China's concern over the Taiwan issue through his visit, and emphasized that the Taiwan issue should be handled properly to ensure stable development of bilateral relations.

The most recent reports on Chen's planned trip indicate that at the request of the US to make his stopover as brief as possible, he will now stay overnight on both stops instead of for two days, as originally planned.

(China Daily, CRI.com?August 20, 2004)