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CHINA reacted angrily to Taiwan's expression of support for Kosovo's independence declaration, bluntly telling the island it had no right to offer an opinion on the subject. "It is known to all that as a part of China, Taiwan has no right or eligibility to give the so-called 'recognition' (to Kosovo)," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement. Mr Liu was responding to a statement from Taiwan welcoming Kosovo's unilateral declaration yesterday of independence from Serbia. "Self-determination is a right recognised by the United Nations, and it is the people who are masters of their nation's future," the...

China threatens 'nuclear option' of dollar sales By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard Last Updated: 6:00pm BST 07/08/2007 The Chinese government has begun a concerted campaign of economic threats against the United States, hinting that it may liquidate its vast holding of US treasuries if Washington imposes trade sanctions to force a yuan revaluation. Two officials at leading Communist Party bodies have given interviews in recent days warning - for the first time - that Beijing may use its $1.33 trillion (£658bn) of foreign reserves as a political weapon to counter pressure from the US Congress. Shifts in Chinese policy are often announced...