China's military expansion as depicted in recent US reports has shattered the illusion that China wants to resolve the so-called "Taiwan issue" through peaceful means, Vice President Annette Lu (
"China's tremendous military expansion has overturned the illusion that China would adopt peaceful means to solve the Taiwan question," Lu said in a panel discussion on Taiwan's future following the release of a Pentagon report on China's military capabilities.
"It is the US view that Beijing will only seize Taiwan by force, while the so-called peaceful reunification was merely a smoke screen and economic integration a trick," Lu said.
Lu said she was disheartened by the lack of attention paid by local television stations to the release of the Pentagon report, as well as another paper produced by the US-China Security Review Commission.
Lu said it was a pity that China had returned the goodwill of Taipei and Washington by building up its military and becoming increasingly antagonistic, citing the Pentagon report issued on July 12.
The report said Beijing was honing "credible options" to attack Taiwan and could move with scant warning against the nation. The report also said China is exploring coercive strategies designed to bring Taiwan to heel quickly, such as possible air and missile strikes or a naval blockade.
The report concluded that China's military modernization program is aimed at an eventual armed conflict in which Beijing will rely on surprise and shock short of an all-out invasion to force Taiwan into capitulation.
"Beijing is pursuing the ability to force Taiwan to negotiate on Beijing's terms regarding unification with the mainland," the report says.
The vice president also urged the people of Taiwan to take seriously the country's security, particularly defense security, social security and the peace of mind of the people.
Many Taiwanese have lost their direction by seeking profits in China, she said, thereby contributing to high-tech development in China at the expense of Taiwan.
The 200-page US-China Security Review Commission report on China also warned of potential major crises in the Taiwan Strait as a result of China's military buildup in Fujian and neighboring provinces.
US Senator Richard D'Amato, the chairman of the commission, said at the release of the paper on Monday that the White House must consult with Congress more than in the past to avoid what he described as a potential "crash landing" at some time in the future.
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