Responding to China's newly released defense white paper, the Ministry of National Defense said the paper is self-contradictory and is aimed at the international community.
In a press release, the defense ministry said that the white paper is basically all rhetoric, intended to achieve the greatest political effect for the least effort. The paper is strongly worded in parts concerning China's claim of sovereignty over Taiwan and the threat of using force against Taiwan.
"The paper is self-contradictory in nature. Beijing claims in the paper that it is strengthening ties with friendly countries and making efforts to maintain security in the Asia-Pacific region," the defense ministry said.
"But it goes on to reiterate its stance on not renouncing the use of force to solve the `Taiwan problem.' This does not comply with its earlier claim to maintain regional security," it said.
"China's defense white paper, published for the third time since 1998, was born from calls from the international community for military transparency. But we find in it only efforts to create a false image of China as a promoter of world peace," it said.
Another self-contradictory part of the paper is its explanation for China's increase of defense spending from 93.4 billion renminbi in 1998 to 121.2 billion renminbi in 2000, the ministry said.
"The paper does not mention anything about the purchase of advanced weapons from abroad as part of the reason for the increase in defense spending. But it is obvious that the rising defense expenditure has a lot to do with buying expensive items such as Russian-made Su-30 fighter planes and Soveremenny-class destroyers," the defense ministry said.
"It has always been one of China's most commonly used tactics to prepare two different versions of the same story. It is the same with its treatment of the Taiwan issue," the ministry said. "The white paper is apparently meant to be read by the international community since it does not touch too much upon on the Taiwan issue but where the issue is raised, the tone is harsh and threatening," it said.
Entitled China's National Defense in 2000, the white paper was published yesterday by China's State Council and is available on the Web site of the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
The 25,000-word paper calls the situation in the Taiwan Strait "complicated and grim," saying the situation has become one of the reasons for global instability.
The paper also accuses the US of whipping up what it calls "the separatist forces in Taiwan" by continuously selling advanced weapons to the nation.
It expresses strong opposition to plans by the US to deploy the TMD (Theater Missile Defense) system in East Asia and to incorporate Taiwan under its umbrella.
It reiterates once again the three conditions for use of force against Taiwan: first, if Taiwan is separated from China in any name for any reason; second, if foreign forces invade Taiwan, and third, if the Taiwan leadership indefinitely postpones talks with China on unification.
"The PLA, China's military, has the absolute determination, confidence, capability and means to defend the sovereignty of the country as well as its territorial integrity," the paper warns. "We will not sit by idly watching any separatist movements."
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