Hong Kong, Feb. 11 (CNA) Hardline People's Liberation Army former generals have criticized mainland Chinese President Jiang Zemin for being "too soft" on Taiwan and the United States, the South China Morning Post reported on Friday.
The criticism came when a group of retired generals met to discuss the recent decision by the US House of Representatives to support closer military ties between America and Taiwan, said the report.
However, Jiang is understood to be sticking to his policy of offering an olive branch to the next Taiwan president, provided the new leader is willing to shelve President Lee Teng-hui's "two states theory."
The report quoted a Beijing source as saying that two former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Generals Liu Hua-qing and Zhang Zhen led the former PLA hardliners.
Despite being in retirement, the two still wield considerable influence among officers, particularly nationalists.
One general said the strong support the US congress had given Taiwan was an indication that the "hegemonists" will never stop using the "Taiwan card" against the mainland, and compared the island to a "cancer" that has to be removed as early as possible.
A source familiar with Beijing's policymaking on Taiwan said PLA hardliners, including many serving officers, have privately blamed Jiang for lacking the guts and resolve of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiao-ping. (By Belle Chou)
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