China: Thousands of people took to the streets of Taiwan yesterday to protest against China's proposed anti-secession law as the National People's Congress in Beijing prepared to rubber-stamp the controversial bill. The bill has prompted fears that China may be getting ready to invade.
The Taiwanese are worried that China will use the anti-secession law, which is sure to pass through the annual parliament this week, as a legal basis for invasion. Their fears were underlined by a budget proposal to increase military spending by 12.6 per cent, the latest double-digit rise in Beijing's arms spending.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing did nothing to allay Taiwanese anxiety when he said that China would allow no one, specifically Japan and the United States, to stand in the way of its bid to reclaim Taiwan.
"Any practice of putting Taiwan directly or indirectly into the scope of Japan-US security co-operation constitutes an encroachment on China's sovereignty and interference in internal affairs," Mr Li told a news conference during the annual National People's Congress.
"The Chinese government and people are firmly against such activity." Mr Li is a former ambassador to the US.
The National People's Congress is generally a ceremonial talking shop where laws drawn up behind closed doors by the Communist Party's top cadres are given the rubber stamp of approval by grassroots representatives. However the profile of the congress has been raised this year by Taiwan featuring so prominently on the agenda.
Beijing claims that Taiwan is a renegade territory and has not ruled out reunification by force. It has claimed sovereignty over the island since the end of China's civil war in 1949, when the defeated nationalists fled there from the Communist-held mainland and it has hundreds of missiles stationed just across the Strait of Taiwan.
About 15,000 people attended the demonstration in southern Taiwan, waving banners saying "Save Taiwan by resisting being swallowed" and "Peace, Freedom, go Taiwan!" At the rally, former president Lee Teng-hui was in no doubt about the aims of the bill. "The goal of the anti-secession law is to swallow Taiwan," said Mr Lee.
The US has pledged to help defend Taiwan, but it is worried that a conflict would compromise its growing interests in China's booming economy.
China has threatened to attack if Taiwan formally declares independence, but there are worries on the island that the new law could lower that threshold for armed conflict.
President Chen has caused anger in Beijing with his pro-independence stance, but he has adopted a more conciliatory tone recently as a result of pressure from Washington and from opposition parties in Taiwan, which hold a slim majority in parliament.
While talking tough on Taiwan, Mr Li adopted a more conciliatory tone on dealings with the United States and old enemy Japan when he said that disputes with the two countries should be resolved by dialogue and that China was not a threat to anyone.
The situation in the Taiwan Strait also has implications further afield. Washington and Brussels are at odds at the moment over the EU's plan to abolish an embargo on arms sales to China, which was imposed after the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown on democracy activists.
Meanwhile, at the Beijing congress, Hong Kong's embattled leader Tung Chee-hwa remained silent about reports that he would step down, but he did say that he would end the speculation later this week.
Many believe he will do this after he has been promoted to a senior position, probably vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is the top advisory body to China's parliament.
This would give Mr Tung a way to leave with honour and would help Beijing to save face.
"I have promised everyone I will give an answer to the question that everyone is concerned with. I will deliver that promise," Mr Tung said.