BEIJING, Dec. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman reiterated China's position on the issue of Taiwan here Thursday, saying that it will neither tolerate "Taiwan independence" nor allow anyone to separate Taiwan Province from China in any way or for any excuse.

    Liu Jianchao made the remarks in reply to a journalist's question about a US State Department official's recent comment on China's rise and the Taiwan issue.

    In an interview earlier this month with the US Public Broadcasting Service, US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage reiterated the US official line of supporting the one-China policy, under which Taiwan is considered part of China's territory.

    Armitage said that under the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States is not required to defend Taiwan.

    Liu said China and the United States should develop constructive cooperation and contribute to promoting peace and prosperity in the world on the basis of principles enshrined in the three Sino-US communiques.

    "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China," he said.

    China will continue to stick to the principles of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems," Liu said. "We will, with utmost sincerity, try our best to achieve peaceful reunification of our motherland." Enditem