Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

ANTI-SECESSION LAW WILL AUTHORIZE BEIJING TO USE FORCE: MAC OFFICIAL

ROC Central News Agency

2005-03-04 23:41:20

    Taipei, March 4 (CNA) A legislator of the pro-Taiwan independence Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) quoted Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Huang Wei-feng as saying Friday that China's proposed anti-secession law would authorize Beijing to use force against Taiwan.

    Ho Min-hao, deputy convener of the TSU legislative caucus, said Huang made the remarks while delivering a report on Beijing's plan to enact an anti-secession law targeting Taiwan at a closed-door meeting with TSU lawmakers.

    Beijing officials have disclosed that China will use non-peaceful means against Taiwan if necessary, Huang was quoted as saying. "Judging from the statement, the anti-secession law will be an act authorizing the Beijing authorities to wage war on Taiwan, " said Huang.

    As for the government's countermeasures to the proposed legislation, Ho said that the government should join hands with friendly countries to protect the rights and interests of the people of Taiwan.

    While continuing to push for the establishment of a peaceful and stable cross-Taiwan Strait interaction framework, the government should intensify its international publicity campaign to let the international community understand that Taiwan is a sovereign independent country and that neither side of the Taiwan Strait has jurisdiction over the other, said Ho.

    In addition, he said, the government should also call on the international community to help cope with Beijing's intention to use force against the island by enacting its so-called anti-secession law.

    Meanwhile, Ho disclosed that the MAC, the top agency in charge of drafting Taiwan's China policy, will do its utmost to deter China from sabotaging peace and stability across the strait.

    Once the National People's Congress -- China's rubber-stamp parliament -- approves the law in a plenary session slated to be held March 8-14, the MAC will make an appropriate response, Ho went on.

    He further said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent five delegations to the United States, Europe and Japan to meet with government officials, parliamentarians, think tank experts and local media in those countries to brief them on Taiwan's basic stance, in the hope that they will help block the anti-secession law from going into force.

(By Luis Huang)

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