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BEIJING (AFP) - France threw its support behind a law that allows China to attack Taiwan while vowing to keep pushing for an end to an EU arms embargo that could open the door for Paris to sell Beijing weapons. On a three-day visit to China, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said Paris had no objections to the anti-secession law, appearing to put it at odds with the European Union. "The anti-secession law is completely compatible with the position of France," he said in a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. At the same time, he vowed that...

Chen must respond to PRC maneuvering, analysts say RESPONSE: Intimidation from Beijing has prompted two presidential advisors to tender their resignations. Decisive action from Chen is necessary, observers insist By Huang Tai-lin STAFF REPORTER Sunday, Apr 03, 2005,Page 3 A series of events taking place this week had some political observers expressing concern over a possible emergence of support for Beijing in Taiwan in the wake of China's newly-enacted "Anti-Secession" Law. Noting the controversial visit a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) delegation made to China two days after hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese took to the streets to oppose the Anti-Secession...

Taiwan democracy rises above bickering By Kathrin Hille in Taipei Published: March 27 2005 22:11 | Last updated: March 27 2005 22:11 It was a good weekend for Liao Wen-yen. A massive protest in Taipei on Saturday against China's anti-secession law, which organisers said drew 1m people on to the streets, provided the garbage truck driver who collects banners and posters from demonstrations and election rallies with many new trophies. Inflatable plastic clubs with “Peace” printed on them, a handmade cardboard sign bearing the warning “Chinese hooligans, watch out”, and a dirty paper slip with the words “Are Taiwanese really...

BEIJING — China warned Sunday that Taiwan is stirring "new tension" with Beijing, a day after hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese marched in protest against the communist mainland's threats to take their self-ruling island by force. Vowing never to back down, China said via government media that it stood by its controversial anti-secession law passed March 14, which authorizes an attack on Taiwan if the island moves toward formal independence. "The extreme Taiwan independence secessionists have been malevolently distorting the principles of the law to misguide the Taiwan people and instigate antagonism and create new tension across the Taiwan Strait,"...

Taiwan rallies against China law Taiwan is venting its frustration at China's anti-secession law Hundreds of thousands of people are attending a mass protest in Taiwan against China's anti-secession law passed earlier this month. The law allows China, which sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, to use "non-peaceful" means to stop any move by the island towards independence. Senior politicians urged their followers to join the protest. The island's government has been heartened by broad international criticism of China's new legislation. Joseph Wu, who heads Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, the body responsible for the island's dealings with China, says it...

Bush wins big as China overplays its hand By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON - The apparent decision by European leaders to delay the lifting of their 16-year-old arms embargo on China beyond June marks a clear-cut foreign-policy victory for US President George W Bush, who made the issue a major priority in his visit to Europe last month. China itself may have inadvertently made Bush's victory possible. Its enactment last week of an Anti-Secession Law that lays the foundation for a possible military attack on Taiwan if, in Beijing's judgment, it were to move toward formal independence, gave the administration powerful...

BRITAIN is facing an increasingly acrimonious argument with America over military exports to China after the Communist party pledged yesterday to push through legislation allowing for war with Taiwan. Washington fears its sailors and pilots could face weapons guided by European technology in a battle over Taiwan, which split from China in 1949 and is a thriving democracy. One example cited by American analysts is a micro-satellite developed by Surrey University’s commercial arm which will give China increased ability to survey the Taiwan Straits and enhance knowledge that could be used to wage war in space. The firm, Surrey Satellite...