China vows to prevent Taiwan independence

 [The Agonist]

China vows to prevent Taiwan independence John Ruwitch | Beijing | December 27Reuters -  China's military will crush any major moves towards independence by Taiwan no matter what the cost, said a government policy paper that accused Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian of escalating tension. The paper on defence was released on Monday 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 declares independence. "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," the paper said.

 

I can't help but wonder if neo-conservatives really think the US can restrain China from preventing Taiwan's independence? A country with ¼ of the world's population headed towards eclipsing the US economy in the next decade could hardly be contained by a weakened US. Bush has squandered what military and economic health we have on a personal adventure in Iraq.

Complete Article
China vows to prevent Taiwan independence
By John Ruwitch
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's military will crush any major moves towards independence by Taiwan no matter what the cost, said a
government policy paper that accused Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian of escalating tension.
The paper on defence was released on Monday 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 declares independence.
"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," the paper said.
Taiwan split from the mainland at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, but Beijing still sees the self-governing island of 23 million as part
of China and has pledged to bring it back into the fold, by force if necessary.
"The situation in the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits is grim," the paper said.
Separatist activities on Taiwan had become the "biggest immediate threat" to China's sovereignty and to peace and stability in the region, it
said.
Moves by Taiwan's Chen towards independence for the island have made Beijing's communist leaders increasingly nervous since he took
office in 2000 and tension has risen.
"The Taiwan authorities under Chen Shui-bian have recklessly challenged the status quo that both sides of the Straits belong to one and the
same China, and markedly escalated the 'Taiwan independence' activities designed to split China," the paper said.
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.
U.S. NOT HELPING
The policy paper also shook a finger at the United States, saying it sent the wrong signals to Taiwan independence seekers.
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but it is bound by law to help Taiwan defend itself. Washington is
the island's biggest arms supplier.
"The U.S. action does not serve a stable situation across the Taiwan Straits," the paper said without specifying.
Despite international calls for China to resolve the issue peacefully, Beijing has refused to renounce the use of force as an option for solving
the Taiwan problem.
It was the "sacred responsibility" of China's armed forces to prevent Taiwan independence forces from splitting the country, the policy paper
said.
On Sunday, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or parliament, praised the draft anti-secession law and unanimously
suggested it be submitted to a full session of parliament early next year.
However, the paper held out the prospect of talks with Taiwan if its leaders accept the "one China" principle.
"Cross-Straits talks can be held at any time on officially ending the state of hostility between the two sides, including on the establishment of a
confidence-building mechanism in the military field," it said.
The defence policy paper, China's first since 2002, recapped in detail developments in China's military modernisation over the past two
years, saying China posed a threat to no one.
"China will mainly rely on its own strength for development, and therefore poses no obstacle or threat to anyone," it said.
It said the foundation for the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes was "not solid enough".
It noted that Japan was adjusting its security policies. Since World War Two, China has been wary of any moves to expand the role of
Japan's military, which is constitutionally forbidden from waging war and limited to defensive activities.
China's defence budget was 211.7 billion yuan this year, the paper said. That compared with 190.79 billion yuan in 2003 and 170.78 billion
yuan in 2002.
Reuters
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