China authorises force to bring Taiwan to heel

China’s parliament enacted a law today authorising force to stop rival Taiwan from pursuing formal independence, prompting anger on the self-governing island and warnings from Japan of a rise in regional tensions.

Passage of the law at the National Assembly came a day after President Hu Jintao told China’s military to be ready to fight to protect national sovereignty – the mainland’s phrase for action over Taiwan, which the Communist government claims as its territory.

It also follows a 12.6% increase in spending on the 2.5 million-member Chinese military this year, fuelling concerns over Beijing’s strategic intentions.

Delegates to the National People’s Congress in Beijing burst into applause after the law was approved by a 2,896 to zero vote, with two abstentions.

The body usually votes overwhelmingly for the Communist Party’s policies, but the emphatic result was meant to send a message of the intensity of Beijing’s sentiment on the issue.

Premier Wen Jiabao said the law is intended to encourage peaceful unification with Taiwan.

“It is not targeted at the people of Taiwan, nor is it a war bill,” Wen said at a news conference following the session.

But he also warned outsiders not to get involved, saying: ”We do not wish to see foreign interference.”

Taiwan and China split in 1949. Beijing has threatened repeatedly to attack if Taiwan tries to make its de facto independence permanent. The US is Taiwan’s biggest arms supplier and could be drawn into any conflict over the island.

A leading Taiwanese MP denounced Beijing for ignoring Taiwan’s opposition and passing a “savage law.”

The law shows that China “feels futile and doesn’t know how to deal with Taiwan’s democracy and freedom,” said Chen Chin-jun, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

“We can clearly see that Taiwan and China … are not one China. They are two Chinas or one country on each side,” Chen said in Taipei. “Whatever law they passed, Taiwan has its own

sovereignty, government, country and democracy.”

The law does not give details of what specific developments might trigger an attack. It adds no new threats or conditions, but it codifies the measures for authorising military action.

MPs said the law would send a message that Beijing’s patience was wearing thin.

“For us in the armed forces, this gives us a legal foundation on which to make our preparations to maintain our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Lieutenant Zhang Shantong, a delegate from the People’s Liberation Army.

Japan warned that the law could increase regional tensions.

“We are concerned about negative effects of the bill on the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the relationship between the two sides, which had been improving,” said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda.

Many Chinese are strongly nationalistic and support unification with Taiwan. But because China allows no opposition politicians or free press, it was difficult to gauge the level of genuine support for the law.

Hong Kong’s new leader clung to China’s position on the touchy Taiwan issue today, saying he would probably be just as conservative as his predecessor when dealing with the Taiwanese.

Sir Donald Tsang provided no indications that he plans to deviate from the Taiwan policy of his predecessor, Tung Chee-hwa, who resigned last week, citing bad health.

“I will be just as conservative and just as forthcoming probably as Mr Tung,” said Tsang, a career civil servant who declines to use his British awarded knighthood.