Beijing, Nov 26: China warned Taiwan today that any moves to allow a referendum on independence would result in "disaster," but a government spokesman wouldn't say what Beijing would do. Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the mainland's Taiwan affairs office, also called on the united states to affirm support for Beijing's claim to Taiwan as its territory when premier Wen Jiabao visits Washington next month. Taiwanese President Chen Shui-Bian has proposed drafting a new constitution and a law on referendums, which Beijing has rejected as steps that could lead to formal independence.
"If Chen Shui-Bian continues to take the road to independence, it will inevitably harm the interests of Taiwan's people and bring disaster to Taiwan's people," Zhang said at a regular monthly briefing.
Taiwan and the mainland have been ruled separately since 1949. The communist Beijing government claims the island as its territory and has threatened to attack if it declares formal independence.
Zhang said China would never tolerate an independent Taiwan. But asked repeatedly whether Beijing would go to war or what other steps it might take, Zhang would say only that he expected little impact on trade from cross-strait disagreements.
"The Chinese people and the Chinese government will use various methods to maintain China's unity and sovereignty," he said. "We will not just sit and watch Taiwan's moves to independence."
Bureau Report