How will China react?

Taiwan's provincial governor James Soong was so infuriated by the recent National Development conference's decision to freeze provincial polls that he resigned from his post and membership of the ruling KMT's Central Standing Committee.

This is as good as issuing a challenge to President Lee Teng- hui and Vice-President Lien Chan, one that would spark a political storm and make a major impact on Taiwanese society.

Although the decision to freeze provincial polls was said to have been made to simplify the government's administrative structure, it is not difficult to see the implications and its influence on Taiwan's political development.

Despite the protracted split in views on cross-strait reunification, leaders on both sides had acknowledged that Taiwan is a province of China.

Taiwan's decision to abolish the provincial government has, to a certain extent, shown that its leaders no longer view the island as a province of the Chinese mainland. This move may perhaps also explain Mr. Lee's soon-to-be-realized plan to maintain and further consolidate Taiwan as an independent political entity.

What reaction this would provoke from Beijing is now the focus of attention.

-- Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore