China's anti-secession move spooks Taiwan

BEIJING - China unveiled an anti-secession bill yesterday that allows the use of military force to thwart any bid for independence by Taiwan but sought to ease United States concerns by leaving itself other options.

The bill has raised alarm bells in Taiwan, the US and Japan, but diplomats and analysts said the draft's emphasis on "non-peaceful" means as a last resort appeared designed to provide China alternatives to war, such as blockades or sanctions.

Beijing has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has threatened to attack if the democratic island of 23 million formally declares statehood.

Wang Zhaoguo, a vice-chairman of China's Parliament, said the bill called for the use of non-peaceful means should "major incidents" entailing Taiwan's secession from China occur, or should possibilities for a peaceful reunification be completely exhausted.

"Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification should prove futile," Mr Wang said, quoting from the bill.

The bill was "necessary and timely", but he said China was still committed to peaceful reunification with Taiwan.

"So long as there is a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, we will exert our utmost to make it happen rather than give it up," said Mr Wang, who sits on the Communist Party's elite 24-member Politburo.

In Taipei, the bill sparked an expected angry response from the Government.

"Communist China tries to use this bill to deny the sovereignty of the Republic of China and unilaterally change the status quo of the Taiwan Strait," said Chiu Tai-shan, vice-chairman of Taiwan's policy-making Mainland Affairs Council, using Taiwan's official name.

"It has caused tension in the region."

Taiwan Premier Frank Hsieh told Parliament he supported revising sensitive parts of the constitution if China passed the bill legalising an attack and including Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China.

But Chen Yuchun, a China expert at Taiwan's private Chinese Culture University, said "non-peaceful means" could include economic sanctions, a blockade, and not necessarily refer to military conflict.

"The choice of words is certainly more moderate."

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has called the legislation the biggest threat to regional stability. Thousands took part in a protest march against the bill in southern Taiwan on Sunday.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who spoke to his US counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, about Taiwan yesterday, said the issue was China's business and China's alone.

The bill also aimed to encourage economic exchanges and co-operation and realise direct trade and transport links between the two sides, Mr Wang said.

Taiwan has banned non-stop air and shipping links since 1949 because of security fears, but trade and tourism have flourished. Taiwan investors have poured up to US$100 billion ($135 billion) into China.

The bill calls for Beijing and Taipei to negotiate an end to their hostility and map out future relations with an eye to eventual peaceful reunification.

The rivals could also resume fence-mending talks on the island's post-reunification status in the international community.

- REUTERS