China won't 'sit idle' if U.S. backs Taiwan independence, Jiang says

China won't 'sit idle' if U.S. backs Taiwan independence, Jiang says

Robert J. Saiget, Agence France-Presse/Beijing

China's military strongman and former president Jiang Zemin on
Thursday told visiting U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza
Rice China would not "sit idle" if foreign forces supported
Taiwan independence.

"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 leader's veiled warnings against
U.S. military intervention if Taiwan formally declares
independence and China attacks the island came amid increasing
tension between Beijing and Taipei.

Jiang was cited telling Rice the Taiwan issue was the "most
sensitive" issue in Sino-U.S. relations and expressing dismay
with Washington's weapons sales to the island.

"The U.S. sides' 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."

Rice's two-day visit is expected to focus not only on Taiwan,
but U.S. efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear
weapons program.

A senior administration official traveling with Rice told AFP
she conveyed President George W. Bush's reaffirmation of U.S.
backing for the One-China policy, which recognizes Taiwan as a
part of China, and his "non-support" for Taiwan independence.

Rice, however, reiterated Washington's commitment to the
Taiwan Relations Act, under which the United States pledges to
defend Taiwan if it is attacked.

"Rice, on behalf of the president, expressed our continuing
commitment to the obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act and
opposition to unilateral steps to change the status quo," 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 the
end of a civil war in 1949.

Beijing has loudly urged the United States to curb Taiwan's
pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian from moving toward a
formal split, seeing high-tech weapons sales to the island as
emboldening independence advocates.

Beijing's message to Rice comes in the context of huge U.S.
joint military exercises in the West Pacific this summer.

The U.S. official declined to say whether the exercises were
discussed on Thursday.

Specific human rights cases, religious freedom and weapons
proliferation issues were raised by Rice during discussions, said
the official, who declined to give details.

A U.S. source said Rice specifically raised concerns about
retired military doctor Jiang Yanyong who exposed Beijing's
coverup of last year's Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
epidemic, but is now reported by U.S. 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, who meets President Hu Jintao on Friday before leaving
for Seoul, painted a positive picture of U.S.-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."

Rice's visit coincided with a call from North Korea's defense
chief for soldiers to step up combat preparations, denouncing the
United States for plotting an attack on the communist country.

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.

The U.S. sees China as a key partner in trying to end the
standoff. 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.