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CHINA'S RISE BIGGEST THREAT TO REGIONAL SECURITY: TSU HEAD

Central News Agency

2005-07-18 19:23:58

    Los Angeles, July 17 (CNA) The rise of China is the biggest threat to security in Asia and the Pacific, visiting pro-independence opposition Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Chairman Su Chin-chiang said Sunday.

    Su, who arrived in Los Angeles that day for a six-day visit, made the remarks when speaking to Taiwanese expatriates.

    China has termed its rise as peaceful, but this, according to Su, is just a cover for its ambition of expansion, which he said is evidenced by a recent spate of developments.

    He cited the example of Chinese major-general Zhu Chenghu's recent threat to use nuclear weapons against the United States.

    Zhu, who is also professor at China's National Defence University, was cited as saying that China is ready to use nuclear weapons against the United States if Washington attacks his country over Taiwan.

    This shows clearly the true colors of China as an "international terrorist rogue country," Su said, omitting to point out that the PLA officer was stating only his personal opinion and that his views were not endorsed by the Chinese authorities.

    In addition, China relies on its heavy oil imports and wants to ensure the safety of its energy supplies. China, as well as Japan, depend on sea transport for their energy needs, making the sea lane from the Persian Gulf to the Taiwan Strait the lifeline of both countries.

    Su also said that because of Taiwan's "superb" geographic location, if China can hold the Taiwan Strait, it will become its gateway to the Pacific and he claimed that the sea superiority of Japan and the United States -- which has the largest, most powerful navy in the history of mankind -- would "be replaced by China entirely."

    China's ambition to invade Taiwan is self-evident, but it cannot achieve the purpose easily, first, he claimed, because Taiwan will not surrender.

    If Taiwan or other countries counterattack, he speculated, China's economic reforms could regress by 20 or 30 years. Japan, the U.S. and other countries will also not sit idly by in the face of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, he claimed, adding that such an invasion would cost China dearly.

    This is why Chinese President Hu Jintao uses "peaceful development" to replace his predecessor Jiang Zemin's "no renunciation of the use of force against Taiwan," Su said.

    Hu, on one hand, extends the "peace" goodwill gesture toward the U.S., Japan and Taiwan, and on the other hand, indirectly curbs the hawkish forces in the Chinese military so as to stabilize the political situation and solidify his power base.

    Su stressed that Taiwan should build up its own defense strength and use its geographic location so that it can take advantage of the Japan-U.S. "mutual security" network in the Asia-Pacific region.

    If 75 percent of the public think Taiwan has a separate identity to that of China, then this "national defense" will deter China from taking reckless action against Taiwan, Su claimed, and Taiwan Strait will have genuine "peaceful development."

(By L.S. Chu and Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J