26 December 2004	Sunday	13 Ziqa'ad 1425

BEIJING, Dec 25: China submitted a draft law on Saturday it says is aimed at peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but which the island's residents and the United States fear could ratchet up tensions across the Strait.

The official Xinhua news agency gave no details on the contents of the law, but Hong Kong media suggested it could contain clauses that would obligate Chinese military action if Taiwan ever declared independence.

The anti-secession law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, at the session that will run through till Wednesday, Xinhua said.

Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949, but Beijing still sees the self-governing island as its own and has pledged to bring it back into the fold, by force if necessary.

That prospect poses an uncomfortable dilemma for the U.S., which recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China, but at the same time has pledged to help defend Taiwan.

Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po newspaper said the anti-secession law was aimed at ensuring the principles of "one country, two systems" and peaceful reunification, but added the law could justify military action in certain cases.

"If Taiwan independence elements unilaterally change the status quo and intentionally divide the nation, under such circumstances China will have no alternative but to use non-peaceful means to solve the problem," said the pro-Beijing newspaper.

Analysts have said the law is unlikely to be that strong for fear of upsetting relations with the United States and was more likely aimed at preserving the status quo.

In Taiwan, pro-independence efforts by President Chen Shui-bian were dealt a setback earlier this month, when his party failed to gain a majority in the legislature, curbing his power to introduce a new constitution China says would be a step toward secession.-Reuters