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China army will "crush" any Taiwan independence move
BEIJING - Relations between China and Taiwan are grim and the mainland will crush any major moves towards independence by the island no matter what the cost, the government said in a policy paper on national defence on Monday. The comments came as China's parliament discussed a draft anti-secession law that analysts say may contain clauses that would legally bind Beijing to take military action if the island Beijing claims as a renegade province ever declared independence. "The situation in the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is grim," the defence white paper said. "Should the Taiwan authorities go so far as to make a reckless attempt that constitutes a major incident of 'Taiwan independence', the Chinese people and armed forces will resolutely and thoroughly crush it at any cost," it said.
| Including the Three Gorges dam? |
Separatist activities on Taiwan had become the "biggest immediate threat" to China's sovereignty and to peace and stability in the region, the paper said. Pro-independence moves by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian have made Beijing's communist leaders increasingly nervous since he took office in 2000. However, Chen's ambitions suffered a blow this month when his Democratic Progressive Party failed to gain a majority in the legislature, curtailing his power to introduce a new constitution that China says would be a step towards independence. The policy paper criticised the United States for continuing to increase, both qualitatively and quantitatively, its arms sales to Taiwan, saying this sent the wrong signal. "The US action does not serve a stable situation across the Taiwan Straits," it said.
| Still looks stable to me. |
China has been unmoved by outside criticism that Beijing's refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan has ratcheted up tension across the narrow straits. It was the "sacred responsibility" of China's armed forces to prevent Taiwan independence forces from splitting the country, the policy paper said.
| How quaint that an officially anti-religious party cites a 'sacred' responsibility. |
Posted by: Steve White 2004-12-27 |
