Agence France Presse

Beijing, March 14:

China’s parliament today passed a law giving its military the legal basis to attack Taiwan if it moves towards independence, a day after President Hu Jintao told the army to prepare for war. The National People’s Congress passed the legislation as it closed its 10-day annual session, with an overwhelming majority of 2,896 votes for the law and none against. Two delegates abstained. The text of the 10-article law, according to the official Xinhua news agency, calls for the use of “non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” if all else fails.

This will be necessary “in the event that the ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan’s secession from China,” the law said. Military action could also be taken if “major incidents entailing Taiwan’s secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted”. The law does not spell out what is meant by “non-peaceful means” but analysts believe it would cover anything from a naval blockade to surgical missile strikes and an all-out invasion. The law takes effect immediately. Premier Wen Jiabao insisted at a media conference afterwards that the law was aimed at “strengthening” relations and was not a “war bill.” Hu however told the army yesterday to prepare for war, in remarks after he was appointed China’s top military chief that apparently referred to Taiwan.

Taiwan reacted with anger to the passing of the law and called for one million people to rally in protest. “The law is tantamount to authorisation of war... as the law’s essence is allowing adoption of ‘non-peaceful’ means against the island if necessary,” cabinet spokesman Cho Jung-tai told reporters. “All people in Taiwan are against the legislation, and we believe the world community also opposes it,” Cho said. The United States criticised both Beijing and Taipei for ratcheting up the rhetoric. “We have said to both parties that it is not helpful to have unilateral steps that raise tensions across the straits,” Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told ABC television, deeming the law “not necessary.”

“Clearly it raises tensions. And it’s not necessary or a good thing to raise tensions,” she said before departing for a week-long, six-nation trip to Asia, which includes a stop in Beijing.

Japan, a major base for US forces, also voiced concern at the law’s approval, calling on

its neighbours to desist from military action. Wen made clear the law was an “internal affair” and warned against any “direct or indirect interference” over Taiwan, singlling out the US-Japan security alliance. Last month, the US and Japan jointly issued a statement which described Taiwan as a common security issue amid China’s military build-up.

Death penalty to stay

Beijing: China will not abolish the death penalty, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said today. Xinhua quoted the premier as saying that measures were being taken to reform the country’s judicial system, including the possible recall of the power to approve the death penalty to the Supreme People’s Court. However, based on China’s ‘national conditions’, it was impossible to rescind the sentence, Wen said, pointing out that several nations worldwide still imposed the death penalty. Wen assured the judiciary would be improved to ensure “death penalty was given carefully and fairly”. — HNS