DATE=3/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / TAIWAN (L)
NUMBER=2-259865
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  China's Army newspaper has stepped up the 
level of Beijing's saber rattling against Taiwan -- 
pledging in a front-page editorial it stands ready to 
smash any move by the island toward formal 
independence.  V-O-A Correspondent Roger Wilkison 
reports the latest blast comes as the government 
Monday announced it is boosting military spending this 
year by nearly 13 percent, to push ahead with a plan 
to modernize its armed forces.


TEXT:  The editorial in the "Liberation Army Daily" 
warns Taiwan that millions of Chinese troops stand 
ready to attack the island, if it declares 
independence.  Taiwan has enjoyed de facto 
independence for more than 50 years.  However, Beijing 
claims the island as an inseparable part of China and 
has vowed to prevent it from going its own way, by any 
means.

The warning follows a similar threat by General Zhang 
Wannian Sunday.  General Zhang is the number-two 
figure on China's Central Military Commission, which 
is headed by President Jiang Zemin.  General Zhang 
told military delegates to China's national 
legislature that -- in his words -- Taiwan 
independence means war.

That phrase is also the title of the front-page 
editorial in the army newspaper, which comes after two 
weeks of stepped up Chinese rhetoric against Taiwan.  
First came a policy paper warning the island that -- 
if it continues to drag its heels on entering 
reunification talks with China -- it could risk being 
attacked.  Saturday, President Jiang threatened 
unspecified drastic measures against Taiwan if it 
resists Beijing's overtures.  And, in his state of the 
nation speech Sunday, Premier Zhu Rongji -- although 
less belligerent in tone -- also warned  China will 
not sit idly by if Taiwan would formally go its own 
way.

Most diplomats in Beijing believe the saber rattling 
on China's part is designed to frighten Taiwanese 
voters, who are scheduled to elect a new president 
March 18th.  Although Beijing has never indicated which 
of the three main candidates it prefers to deal with, 
the Liberation Army Daily editorial made it clear 
China regards opposition leader Chen Shui-bian as 
unsuitable.  

Mr. Chen -- who represents the Democratic Progressive 
Party -- has been a longtime supporter of Taiwan 
independence, although he has backed away from that 
position in recent weeks to reassure voters he would 
not provoke Beijing.  But the Liberation Army Daily 
calls Mr. Chen deceitful, saying he proclaims 
independence out of one side of his mouth and talks 
about peace and cooperation with the mainland out of 
the other.

Beijing's tough talk on Taiwan comes as it seeks to 
expand its navy and air capabilities and build a 
modern, high-tech military force.  Finance Minister 
Xiang Huaicheng has proposed boosting military 
spending by twelve-point-seven percent for the second 
year in a row -- bringing the total to a record 14 and 
a half billion dollars.  But western diplomats say 
that figure does not include weapons procurement and 
research and development costs, which are hidden in 
other allocations.  (signed)


NEB/ RW / WD



06-Mar-2000 07:01 AM EDT (06-Mar-2000 1201 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.