"If the Taiwan authorities collude with all splittist forces to openly engage in pro-independence activities and challenge the mainland and the one-China principle, the use of force may become unavoidable," vice minister of the Taiwan affairs office of the Chinese Cabinet, Wang Zaixi was quoted as saying by state-run 'China Daily'.
"The separatist forces are set to pay a high cost if they think we will not use force against their conspiracy to promote formal independence,'' he said. Beijing's latest warning is the strongest statement in years against the pro-independence government in Taipei. China views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force. Wang said that Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian's "extreme push for independence" is crossing Beijing's red line and runs the risk of triggering a war between the island and mainland.
He said curbing Taiwan's independence crusade is the bottom line of the mainland's Taiwan policy and war will break out if the island declares formal independence.
Bureau Report