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.