Beijing Wednesday strongly condemned Taipei’s “war-provoking actions” after Taiwanese “premier” Yu Shyi-kun called for a “balance of terror” across the Straits. Yu was seeking to justify the island’s planned multibillion-US dollar purchase of American weapons.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said the provocative move has exposed the island’s attempt to pursue a permanent split from the motherland through a military buildup.

Yu claimed on Saturday that the weapons are needed to maintain a balance of power with the mainland. He threatened a missile strike on Shanghai in the event of a cross-Straits military clash.

“His remarks are a serious provocation and clamoring for war,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi said at a regular press conference.

“This fully demonstrates the nature of the Taiwan authorities to push for ‘Taiwan independence’ under the guise of their false attitude towards peace.”

In a deal first offered by US President George W. Bush, the island is planning to buy 610.8 billion New Taiwan dollars (US$18.0 billion) worth of US-made antimissile systems, aircraft and submarines.

The deal has not yet been approved by the “parliament.” If passed, it will be Taiwan’s biggest arms purchase in a decade.

Reuters reports that thousands of people marched through the streets of Taipei on Saturday to protest the purchase. Many feel that it will start an arms race and that the money would be better spent on welfare or education.

Li said the protests indicate that Taiwan’s arms buildup endangers the fundamental interests of the Taiwanese people and violates their will.

He accused Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian of “obstinately carrying out separatist activities” to create tensions and damage peace in the Taiwan Straits.

Chen, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has been advocating a separatist timetable, calling for the drafting of a new “constitution” through a referendum in 2006 and enacting the document in 2008.

Li warned that it will be “illegal and not valid” for Taiwan to take any unilateral moves to change the island’s status as part of China in any form, including the so-called referendum.

“For the Chinese people, there is nothing more important and more sacred than safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. “Any person, any force using whatever methods to attempt to seek ‘Taiwan independence’ and make enemies with 1.3 billion Chinese people is doomed to failure.”

Li noted that Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo told the United Nations General Assembly last week that the push towards independence by certain groups in Taiwan is most dangerous.

“This shows that the international community has reached a consensus to oppose?‘Taiwan independence’ and adhere to the one-China principle,” he said.

(China Daily September 30, 2004)