As the countdown to the May 20 inauguration of President-elect Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) enters its final week, China has begun to turn up the pressure on Taiwan -- issuing a threatening editorial yesterday in the People's Daily and leaking the details of a reunification deadline to the Hong Kong press.
According to the Hong Kong daily The Sun, a recent meeting of a central government Taiwan task force, led by Vice Premier of the State Council, Qian Qichen (
If Taiwan drags its feet during the process of reunification, the National People's Congress will decide in 2003 whether unification will be a matter to be peacefully resolved, or one that must be achieved through the use of force, the article said, quoting unnamed sources in Beijing.
If Taiwan expresses a willingness to move towards unification it could happen on the 100th anniversary of the Hsinhai Revolution (which led to the formation of the Republic of China) or in 2008, The Sun reported.
An editorial in the People's Daily, the first since Chen's election, echoed similar themes, urging Chen to recognize the "one China" model. In a commentary titled "Evading One China Principle Impermissible," the state-run daily reiterated Beijing's stance that talks between both sides were possible if pro-independence leader Chen embraced "one China" and accepted that Taiwan was an inalienable part of China.
So far Chen has said he is prepared to discuss the issue, but cannot accept any definition of "one China" which recognizes the Communist government in Beijing as the island's legitimate ruler.
The editorial warned Chen, who downplayed the need to declare independence during his election campaign, that he should stop playing "word games."
"Recognizing that Taiwan is part of China and the `one China' principle are basic requirements the mainland expects from the Taiwan regional leader," it said.
"There will be no lasting peace across the Taiwan Strait if the `one China' principle and the fact that Taiwan is part of China are not recognized.
"We maintain that the two sides of the straits have dialogues, talks, and negotiations as equals, but the sole precondition is that the Taiwan side must recognize the `one China' principle. This is our bottom line."
Analysts say Beijing is waiting to see how Chen approaches the issue in his speech on Saturday before deciding how to respond. Hong Kong press reports have talked of military exercises and a virulent propaganda campaign depending on the content of the speech.
Chen has said it would be difficult for one speech to change anything that over 50 years of KMT rule or 12 years of President Lee Teng-hui (
The People's Daily said it had noted Chen's repeated offers of dialogue and offers to improve relations since his election victory, but said he was not being sincere.
"He has adopted an attitude of evading and defying the most important and key issues for developing the cross-strait relationship," the editorial said.
"The elected Taiwan leader lacks sincerity toward improving the cross-strait relationship as he avoids talking about the key issue of the `one China' principle," the editorial said.
The editorial was the first time China had shifted its threats and accusations to Chen and away from Vice President-elect Annette Lu (
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