Chinese Communist Party chief President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) has urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to prepare for a military struggle, but stopped short of singling out Taiwan as the target.
Many security analysts see the Taiwan Strait as the most dangerous flashpoint in Asia. China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has threatened to attack if the democratic nation of 23 million people declares independence.
Hu, who assumed the role of military chief less than two weeks ago, told the 2.5-million-strong PLA to "seize the moment and do a good job of preparing for a military struggle," the People's Daily and the Liberation Army Daily said yesterday.
Hu did not say against whom the struggle might be fought.
Hu also urged the PLA, the world's biggest army, to "comprehensively revolutionize, modernize and standardize," the reports said. No details were given.
Meanwhile, Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) used a National Day address yesterday to warn Taiwan against seeking independence and insisted that unification would be realized "in the end."
"We will continue to follow the basic policy of peaceful reunification ... firmly oppose and contain the separatist forces in Taiwan and unswervingly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wen said.
"The sacred goal of complete national reunification must be achieved. It shall be achieved in the end," he said, receiving a lengthy round of applause.
Beijing would "firmly oppose and contain the separatist forces in Taiwan and unswervingly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Wen said in a speech to the top leadership and hundreds of guests gathered at Beijing's Great Hall of the People to mark today's 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
He said that in seeking peaceful unification with Taiwan, China would continue to insist on the "one country, two systems" formula that was used when taking back Hong Kong and Macau.
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