Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/05/05

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA / NPC (L)

NUMBER=2-323027

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

// EDS: Q SCRIPT AVAILABLE AT END OF TEXT //

HEADLINE: China's Legislative Body Opens Annual Session With Focus on Taiwan; Economic Growth

INTRO: Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has opened the annual legislative session of the National People's Congress with a call for Taiwan's peaceful reunification with China and promises to keep the economy growing at a healthy pace. VOA's Luis Ramirez has more from Beijing.

TEXT: /// SFX: MILITARY BAND, FADE ///

With much fanfare, three-thousand deputies - some dressed in colorful costumes of China's minority groups - filled Beijing's Great Hall of the People Saturday to begin the annual 10-day legislative session of the National Peoples' Congress.

Over the course of two hours, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao read a report on the work of the government: a long list of objectives that include measures to alleviate rural poverty, fight corruption, and keep China's economy growing without overheating.

But topping this year's agenda is an anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan. Mr. Wen became impassioned when he called for national unity, drawing a strong round of applause from deputies.

/// WEN ACT, UNDER TRANSLATOR ///

"This law represents the common will and strong determination of the entire Chinese people to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, and never allow secessionist forces working for Taiwan independence to separate Taiwan from China under any name or by any means. We will work to together with our Taiwan compatriots to accomplish the great undertaking of reunifying the motherland."

/// END ACT ///

China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan a part of its territory. Since the two split in 1949 following the Chinese civil war, Communist leaders on the mainland have said they will reunite the island - by force if necessary.

Mr. Wen did not outline details of the law.

Analysts are concerned the anti-secession law and a 12-point-six percent boost in military spending this year may signal plans for an offensive against the island.

In other reports presented Saturday, officials pledged to curb fixed asset investments, cut government spending, and other measures meant to keep China's fast-growing economy from overheating.

Analysts see the 10-day gathering as a largely symbolic meeting, since legislation is drafted in advance with the approval of higher-level Communist Party officials. (Signed)

/// BEGIN OPTIONAL Q: ///

Q: The National People's Congress is normally viewed as a rubber stamp, since all legislation is usually approved unanimously with no debate. But the session seems to be getting special attention this year. Luis, can you tell us why?

A: Well, one issue people here care about is the growing gap between the urban rich and the rural poor - which has manifested itself in unusual and violent protests. President Hu Jintao has really attached importance to this problem. That's primarily because his leadership truly fears any social instability that occurs in China could stem from that inequality.

However, the issue getting the most attention this year is what we heard stressed in Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's speech: Taiwan reunification. The Taiwan question has been a burning one for China's communist leaders for the past 56 years. And they see it as a galvanizing issue - a piece of unfinished work from the civil war that put the Communists in power. But why push it now? Well some analysts I've talked to suggest Taiwan could be a rallying or unifying issue in China as it toughs out the next bumpy phase in its development - which could see the disenchanted population challenging the one party political system. And that seems to be the key theme and major challenge for the Communist Party - how to stay relevant at a time when China is only doing well because of a market - not a socialist - economy. If the government here could pull off reunification, it could capitalize on that accomplishment. (signed)

NEB/HK/LR/JJ/PT