Independence stance may trigger war ( 2003-11-18 22:19) (China Daily)
Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's extreme push for
independence is crossing Beijing's red line and runs the risk of triggering a
war between the island and mainland, a senior government official warned
Tuesday.
Wang Zaixi,
vice-minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
[newsphoto.com.cn/file]
Wang Zaixi,
vice-minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said curbing
Taiwan's independence crusade is the bottom line of the mainland's Taiwan policy
and war will break out if the island declares formal independence.
He stressed Beijing hopes to peacefully settle the Taiwan question and does
not want to have to resort to its military might as all people on the island are
Chinese compatriots.
However, it should not be left to the mainland to realize the goal of
peaceful reunification.
"If the Taiwan authorities collude with all splittist forces to openly engage
in pro-independence activities and challenge the mainland and the one-China
principle, the use of force may become unavoidable,'' Wang said.
"(The separatist forces) are set to pay a high cost if they think we will not
use force against their conspiracy to promote formal independence.''
Wang was speaking yesterday at a seminar organized by the Research Centre for
Cross-Straits Relations, which was attended by scores of mainland experts on
Taiwan studies.
The event was part of Beijing's efforts to counterattack Chen's recent
radical separatist steps, aimed at his re-election in next year's
"presidential'' polls.
As a desperate voting strategy, the Taiwan leader has gone as far as to
unveil his pro-independence timetable, which states the island's new
"constitution'' will be completed on December 10, 2006 and come into effect on
May 20, 2008.
Meanwhile, Chen has also instigated his pro-independence Democratic
Progressive Party to push ahead with the referendum legislation in a bid to
create a legal basis for a future plebiscite on independence.
Taiwan Affairs
Office of the State Council. [newsphoto.com.cn]
To boost the fervor of die-hard splittist members, former Taiwan leader Lee
Teng-hui has even claimed that the mainland would not dare use force against the
island because the United States will protect it under the Taiwan Relations Act.
Wang, however, described relying on Washington to guarantee Taiwan
independence as "a very naive and extremely dangerous idea.''
"The Americans will protect their own national interests but are expected to
neither protect Taiwan independence nor shed blood for Taiwan independence,'' he
said.
Xi Laiwang, a senior researcher with the China Institute of International
Studies, urged the Taiwan authorities and Chen not to underestimate the
mainland's determination to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity
of China.
"Chen's introduction of his pro-independence timetable will prompt the
mainland to come up with its anti-independence timetable,'' he said.
"Given the imminent threat of Taiwan independence, the mainland my be forced
to take pre-emptive actions to smash any splittist attempt.''
In another development, Wang Daohan, president of the Association for
Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, accused Chen of taking advantage of the
promotion of democracy as camouflage for his separatist aim.
He said the irresponsible move of Chen's to force the pro-independence
conspiracy of a handful of people upon the broad mass of Taiwan compatriots will
undermine the fundamental interests of the general public.
The island's social stability and economic development will be further
damaged by the separatist moves, he added.
.jpg)
