March, 15 2005	Tuesday	04 Safar 1426

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BEIJING, March 14: China passed a law on Monday granting itself the right to attack Taiwan if it moves towards formal independence, drawing protests from the island and a rebuke from Washington.

Riding the world’s biggest economic boom, the annual session of the National People’s Congress, or parliament, heard calls for stable growth and reduction of the country’s high industrial accident rates and vast differences in wealth.

Officials dismissed suggestions by Western policymakers that Beijing allow its yuan currency to rise in value.

But by far the biggest issue on the agenda was Taiwan. Beijing has always declared itself willing to use force to reunite the island of 23 million people with the mainland, but only now has enshrined that stance in law.

The parliament passed the “anti-secession law” by a vote of 2,896 to none, with only two abstentions.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council quickly called the law a “serious provocation” unhelpful to the development of relations.

“It also brought emotional pain to the Taiwanese people,” said chairman Joseph Wu. “At this point, the most important matter is that the Chinese government should sincerely apologize to the Taiwanese people for their grave mistake.”

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered soothing words. “This is a law to strengthen and promote cross-Strait relations, for peaceful reunification, not targeted at the people of Taiwan, nor is it a law of war,” he told a news conference.

The United States said it opposed “any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means”.

“We view the adoption of the anti-secession law as unfortunate,” a US spokesman said. “It does not serve the purpose of peace and security in the Taiwan strait. We believe it runs counter to recent progress in cross-Strait relations.”

MILITARY BUILDUP: A buildup in the Taiwan Strait by China’s fast-growing military forces has in recent years drawn in forces of the United States, legally bound to help Taiwan defend itself.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday urged the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to “step up preparations for possible military struggle” and “prevent wars and win the wars if any”.

China hopes the legislation will deter Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian from pushing for independence. Analysts say the PLA has no immediate plans to attack Taiwan, over which Beijing has claimed sovereignty since Nationalist troops fled there in 1949 as the Communists conquered the mainland.

Mr Wen defended the legislation by comparing it to US anti-secession legislation at the start of the 1861-65 American civil war, fought to prevent southern states from seceding.

“In the United States, the civil war broke out, but we here do not wish to see such a situation,” he added.

The Chinese congress also approved Jiang Zemin’s retirement from his last official post, naming President Hu to replace him as head of the ceremonial state military commission — a final step in a leadership transition that began in 2002.—Reuters