In a forceful and at times emotional performance before the international media yesterday, the Chinese Prime Minister, Mr Zhu Rongji, warned the world not to underestimate Beijing's resolve to regain Taiwan, for which he said Chinese people were prepared to sacrifice "all their blood and their lives".
With voting in Taiwan's presidential election taking place on Saturday, Mr Zhu bluntly informed the electorate that no matter whom they elected president, independence in whatever form would never be acceptable.
"This is our bottom line and the will of 1.25 billion Chinese people," Mr Zhu said during a question-and-answer session, stabbing the air with his finger. "Let me advise all these people in Taiwan. Do not just act on impulse at this juncture which will decide the future course that China and Taiwan will follow. Otherwise I'm afraid you won't get another opportunity to regret."
While Mr Zhu did not mention him by name, he left no doubt that he was cautioning Taiwan voters not to support Mr Chen Shui-bian, the candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which supports independence.
Mr Chen is in a close three-way race with Vice-President Lien Chan of the ruling Nationalist Party and a breakaway Nationalist candidate, Mr James Soong. All three have adopted conciliatory attitudes towards Beijing, and have promised not to declare independence for the island China regards as a wayward province, but Mr Zhu said that tricks were being used "to get the one who is for independence to win the election".
The Prime Minister directed much of his anger at the US for daring to criticise Beijing's recent White Paper in which the Chinese government threatened to use force if Taiwan stalled on unification talks. He scolded President Clinton for his March 12th comment that "there must be a shift from threat to dialogue across the Taiwan Strait". His voice rising to a shout, and breaking into English, Mr Zhu retorted: "There must be a shift from threat to dialogue across the Pacific Ocean."
"Some people in America always want to use Taiwan to oppose China," he said. "They view China as a potential enemy. They would be happy to see the Taiwan question drag on indefinitely." Other people had counted the number of aircraft and warships on both sides and had calculated that China would not use force. "They do not understand and they do not know the history of the Chinese people," he said. "The Chinese people are ready to shed blood and sacrifice their lives to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland."
In a rare display of patriotic indulgence, the Chinese leader, who is seen by the west as more technocrat than nationalist, recalled as a nine-year-old hearing songs for the salvation of the motherland, which he said excited him so much that "I decided to devote myself to the great cause of the motherland". "We believe in the political wisdom of the people of Taiwan and we trust that our Taiwan compatriots will make the right historical choice," Mr Zhu added, pointing out that the major stockmarket tumble in Taiwan on Tuesday was "a clear reflection of the worries over the aggression and arrogance of pro-Taiwan independence forces".
He slightly modified his remarks when asked which candidate Beijing favoured, saying: "Whoever stands for `one China' will get our support."
Taiwan's principal official on mainland China, Mr Su Chi, rejected Mr Zhu's warning, saying he had "no right to say anything about our election". An aide to Mr Chen said: "Both sides should leave room for new ties in the future."
Mr Zhu's press conference marked the end of the annual session of the National People's Congress. Summing up the 11-day session, Mr Zhu admitted than on the question of corruption in China, "the people are not yet fully satisfied with our work."
The evidence for this came earlier in voting by the 2,800 delegates. Some 29 per cent refused to support a report on anti-corruption efforts by a leading prosecutor, Mr Han Zhubin. In China's rubber-stamp parliament, that almost amounted to a vote of no confidence.
In keeping with Mr Zhu's "with-it" image, the press conference in the hallowed Great Hall of the People was preceded by pop music, including the Beatles' Let It Be, with the refrain about "speaking words of wisdom".