Posted on 03/07/2007 3:28:56 AM PST by Flavius
IMMERING tensions between China and Taiwan have boiled over, with Beijing criticising Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian for demanding independence and Taipei test-firing a cruise missile capable of hitting Shanghai.
The missile was tested from the Chiupeng military base in Taiwan's south on Friday - carefully timed, like Mr Chen's speech, to precede the opening of China's National People's Congress.
Senior Taiwanese government politicians, including Defence Minister Lee Jye, witnessed the test - which may be seen as a counter to the 17.8 per cent rise in China's military budget now before the NPC. Taiwan claims that China already has 400 missiles lined up against it, in neighbouring Fujian province.
Mr Chen told a pro-independence group on Sunday night that "Taiwan must be independent".
"Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country outside of the People's Republic of China," Mr Chen said.
The comments have provoked outraged responses within China, whose Government has over the past year reined in strong comments on Taiwan.
"Don't listen to local leaders," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Monday.
"Whoever wants to split away will become a criminal in history."
Beijing has regarded Taiwan as a renegade province since the nationalist armies of Chiang Kai-shek fled there in 1949 after losing the civil war. Two years ago, the National People's Congress passed legislation authorising the People's Liberation Army to attack Taiwan if it sought formal independence. Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao drew loud applause from the NPC for reinforcing the eventual aim of peaceful reunification.
Mr Wen's words, drafted before Mr Chen's latest remarks, reflected a steady, cautious approach.
"We will unite with Taiwan compatriots in firm opposition to all forms of secession activities such as calls for Taiwan independence through legislation," Mr Wen said.
"We will continue to step up dialogue and exchanges on the basis of the one-China principle with all political parties in Taiwan that advocate development of cross-straits relations."
General Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of China's Military Commission, which administers the defence forces, warned in response to Mr Chen that the People's Liberation Army would not tolerate secession.
He told a panel of NPC military delegates: "If (secession) happens, we will effectively perform our glorious mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with the will of the motherland." He urged soldiers to stay on alert.
The NPC is set to approve a 17.8 per cent increase in the military budget, to $58 billion, considerably more than the education or health budget.
The US - which remains the ultimate military guarantor of Taiwan's status - also criticised Mr Chen's comments.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack described Mr Chen's rhetoric as "unhelpful".
"President George Bush has repeatedly underscored his opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo by either Taipei or Beijing," he said.
Mr Chen's speech helped drive Taiwan's main TAIEX stock index down 3.74 per cent on Monday, though it picked up yesterday. Opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou dismissed the statement as the kind of emotional remark the President - besieged by corruption charges for the past year - often makes. Mr Ma is also facing corruption charges. The uncertain political climate, just over a year from the next presidential election, is provoking edgy rhetoric.
The small opposition People First Party has even filed sedition charges against Mr Chen following his remarks on independence.
this is totally uncalled for,
Taiwan needs regular rockets in 2500 miles range as well. And the nukes, of course.
Unless you are talking of a first strike scenario,even ICBMs won't be of use for Taiwan given they have no strategic dept.They need the 8 subs Bush promised to try build for them-even a 300 mile cruise missile is very formidable on such a platform.
Seriously, this is getting scary. Let cooler heads prevail, then we can take care of the Chinese and their North Korean toadies if we have to.
It's not IC, it is medium range BM. And the capacity to incinerate half of continental china on 10 minutes notice is precisely what i am talking about.
Sure-but the question is when?Launch after the PRC initiates an invasion???Taiwan is too small for missile silos to last & even mobile launchers are vulnerable.They just don't have dept.
Launch on launch. By the time of impact the silos would be all empty.
Does this imply that China didn't regard Taiwan as a 'renegade province' before Chiang got there? If so- then what's the criteria for being a 'renegade province'? A large Chinese population?
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