China warns Taiwan over independence moves

Taiwan's future 'lies in reunification'

Chen's comments were likened to 'playing with fire' by analysts

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- In a stern reaction to provocative statements by Taiwan's leader, China's foreign ministry says Beijing will not tolerate any move towards independence by the island.

The response from Beijing comes a day after Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian said he might support a referendum on the island's independence.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province, and has threatened war if the island moves toward independence.

The reaction did not make any specific reference to Chen's proposal, made in a televised address to Taiwanese groups in Japan, that Taiwan residents should seriously consider legislation on holding a referendum to decide the island's future.

But in typical fashion from the Chinese foreign ministry, the reaction was very terse and to the point, with a spokesperson saying there was zero tolerance for independence for Taiwan or anything that moves in that direction.

Separatist action 'not feasible'

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In a separate statement to the media, a spokesman of Beijing's cabinet-level Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said, "The future of Taiwan lies in reunification [with the motherland], and any separatist action is not feasible."

The spokesman said the TAO was studying remarks made by Taiwan's Chen on Saturday and a stronger reaction from Beijing was likely to follow.

During his speech, Chen also indicated that "Taiwan and China on the other side [of the Strait], each side is a [sovereign] country." (Full story)

Chinese sources in Beijing said cadres in the Communist party's Leading Group on Taiwan Affairs as well as the TAO were assessing Chen's remarks -- and the degree of severity that should be attached to Beijing's official response.

The sources said Chinese officials in charge of Taiwan policy were convinced Chen's remarks were at least as serious and provocative as the "two states theory" propounded by former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui in July 1999.

Media critical

In its Sunday edition, Hong Kong's China-run daily, Wen Wei Po, quoted a "relevant official" in Beijing as warning Chen "not to play with fire." (Taiwan, media reaction)

The official said Chen's remarks on holding a referendum were tantamount to "gambling away the fundamental interests of the Taiwan people."

Wen Wei Po also quoted Li Jiaquan, a senior Beijing scholar on Taiwan, as saying Chen was spearheading "the transition from gradualist independence to radical independence."

"Those who play with fire will be burnt," Li warned.

Diplomatic analysts in Beijing said one condition that Chinese authorities had put down as "justification" for using military force against Taiwan was the declaration of independence.

In internal documents, Chinese officials have indicated that holding a referendum is tantamount to an outright declaration of independence.

In late 1999, Beijing responded to former president Lee's "two states theory" with a series of war games, including maneuvers involving missiles, close to Taiwan.

Leaders of Taiwan's main opposition parties, the Kuomintang and the People's First Party, had slammed Chen for making "dangerous" remarks that would jeopardize peace in the Taiwan Strait.