Beijing, June 14: Taiwan's decision to add the word ``Taiwan'' to the front of its passports is a ``creeping pro-independence move'' that will raise tensions with China, Chinese scholars were quoted as saying by an official newspaper today. Taiwan's new passport, unveiled on Thursday, adds ``Taiwan'' to the government's official name, the Republic of China. Taiwan says that will help prevent foreign immigration officers from mistaking Taiwanese travelers for citizens of China.
China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, objects to any step by the island to assert an independent identity.
``Taipei's decision to change its passport design threatens to become another creeping pro-independence move that will worsen cross-straits relations,'' the English-language China daily said.
``This unwise scheme can do nothing but hurt the already tense cross-straits situation and build up mutual distrust,'' the paper quoted Li Jiaquan, a researcher on Taiwan at the government's Chinese academy of social sciences.
China often uses comments by pro-government scholars quoted in state media as a form of indirect criticism that allows the government to register its displeasure without compelling it to take official action.
Chinese officials responsible for Taiwan have yet to comment on the new passports. China daily quoted an unidentified official at the cabinet's Taiwan affairs office saying only that the body had ``noted the new development.''
Bureau Report