MJ Martin (3 Dec 2004)
"China Warns Taiwan against miscalculation"

China warns Taiwan against miscalculation
Yahoo/Reuters ^ | Dec. 2, 2004 | Unknown

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese major general-turned-vice minister, speaking days before Taiwan's parliamentary elections, warned the island against miscalculating Beijing's determination to crush its separatist dreams.
China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split at the end of the civil war in 1949 and warned of war if the island formally declares statehood. Tensions have been simmering since Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's re-election in March.
"There can be no peace (if) Taiwan (becomes) independent, there can be no stability (if) Taiwan splits," the official People's Daily on Thursday quoted Wang Zaixi, a vice minister of the policymaking Taiwan Affairs Office, as saying.
"It would be a serious, dangerous miscalculation if the Chen Shui-bian authorities...think the Chinese people will tolerate 'Taiwan independence' splittist activities for the sake of seeking a peaceful environment to develop," Wang told a seminar in Macau on Wednesday.
Beijing has accused Taipei of exploiting its restraint and provoking conflict as the world's most populous nation focuses on developing its economy and readying for the 2008 Olympics.
"If splittist forces risk danger in desperation and dare to create a major 'Taiwan independence' incident, the Chinese people will resolutely crush 'Taiwan independence' splittist plots at all costs," said Wang, a People's Liberation Army major general before becoming a vice minister in 2000.
Beijing is convinced Chen will push for nationhood if his Democratic Progressive Party wins a majority of seats in the Dec. 11 elections.
Wang repeated China's standard line that it was committed to "one country, two systems", the formula under which Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule in 1997 with promises of autonomy.
Beijing had the greatest sincerity and would exert the greatest effort to seek peaceful reunification and resume stalled dialogue with Taipei, Wang said. Talks between the two sides have been frozen since 1999.