China authorizes force against defiant Taiwan

BEIJING – China’s parliament enacted a law Monday authorizing force to stop rival Taiwan from pursuing formal independence, sparking outrage on the self-governing island and warnings that the measure would fuel regional tensions.

The law does not specify what might trigger an attack and does not add new threats or conditions. Instead, it codifies the measures for authorizing Chinese military action.

The ceremonial National People’s Congress passed the law despite U.S. appeals for restraint. It came a day after President Hu Jintao called on China’s military to be ready for war and followed a 12.6 percent increase in the country’s defense budget for 2005.

The Bush administration said the new law was an “unfortunate” development that could increase tensions in the region.

“It does not serve the purpose of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We believe it runs counter to recent progress in cross-Strait relations,” White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Monday.

Premier Wen Jiabao said the mainland still wants to unite peacefully with the island and does not want to disrupt the status quo.

“It is not targeted at the people of Taiwan, nor is it a war bill,” Wen said at a news conference. But he also warned outsiders not to get involved: “We do not wish to see foreign interference.”

A Taiwanese government spokesman rejected the measure as a “serious provocation.”

“It also brought emotional pain to the Taiwanese people, restricts Taiwan’s freedom and democracy, and has a serious impact on security in the East-Asia region,” said Joseph Wu, chairman of the island’s Mainland Affairs Council, which handles policy toward Beijing.