- (AFP) - China's military strongman Jiang Zemin told visiting
US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice China would not "sit
idle" if foreign forces supported Taiwan independence.
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- "If Taiwan authorities are determined to pursue
Taiwan independence; if foreign forces interfere and support this, we would
definitely not sit idle without doing anything," Jiang was paraphrased
on Chinese state-run television station CCTV as saying.
-
- The aging but still powerful former president's veiled
warnings against US military intervention if Taiwan formally declares independence
and China attacks the island came amid increasing tension between Beijing
and Taipei.
-
- The recent re-election of pro-independence Taiwan President
Chen Shui-bian has fueled fears in Beijing that Chen may be moving toward
a formal split in his second term.
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- Beijing hopes Washington will curb any such moves by
Chen.
-
- Jiang told Rice Taiwan was the "most sensitive"
issue in Sino-US relations and expressed dismay with Washington's recent
handling of Taiwan matters.
-
- "The US side's recent series of actions, especially
plans to sell arms to Taiwan made Chinese people feel seriously concerned
and dissatisfied," said Jiang, chairman of the Central Military Commission.
-
- He said while China prefers to settle the Taiwan issue
peacefully, it "will definitely not tolerate Taiwan independence."
-
- Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, in his talks with Rice,
"strongly" urged the US to understand the sensitivity of the
Taiwan issue and "gravity" of the current situation, the Xinhua
news agency reported.
-
- "The Taiwan issue has a bearing on China's key interest
and is the most crucial factor that affects the smooth development of China-US
relations," Li said.
-
- He urged the US to not only stop selling arms to Taiwan,
which Beijing fears will embolden Chen, but to halt military and official
relations with Taiwan.
-
- A senior administration official travelling with Rice
told AFP she conveyed President George W. Bush's reaffirmation of US backing
for the One-China policy, which recognizes Taiwan as a part of China, and
his "non-support" for Taiwan independence or any actions by Taipei
to change the status quo.
-
- But she reiterated Washington's commitment to the Taiwan
Relations Act, under which the United States pledges to defend the island
if it is attacked.
-
- "Rice, on behalf of the president, expressed our
continuing commitment to the obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act
...," said the official who declined to be identified.
-
- China considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting
reunification, by force if necessary, and has refused to recognize Taiwan's
55 years of de-facto independence since they separated at the end of a
civil war in 1949.
-
- Human rights, religious freedom and weapons proliferation
issues were also raised by Rice during discussions, said the official,
who declined to give details.
-
- A US source said Rice specifically raised concerns about
retired military doctor Jiang Yanyong who exposed Beijing's coverup of
last year's SARS epidemic, but is now reported by US media to be under
24-hour supervision and being forced to undergo "brainwashing sessions."
-
- He had recently called for a government reassessment
of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.
-
- Rice nonetheless painted a positive picture of US-China
relations.
-
- "China is an important power in Asia and globally
and we have an excellent relationship with China," she said.
-
- "It's a relationship that we think is built on mutual
trust and an understanding that China and the United States need to cooperate."
-
- Iraq and North Korea also were discussed, but no details
were given by either side.
-
- The US sees China as a key partner in trying to end the
standoff with Pyongyang.
-
- At six-party talks in Beijing last month, the United
States offered Pyongyang three months to shut down and seal its nuclear
weapons facilities in return for economic and diplomatic rewards.
-
- Beijing has urged Washington to soften its tone and has
indicated displeasure over the deployment this month of 10 F-117 Nighthawk
stealthfighters to South Korea.
-
- Rice meets President Hu Jintao Friday before leaving
for Seoul.
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