by Olivier Knox
WASHINGTON - The White House warned Monday that China`s "unfortunate" new law, giving its military the legal basis to attack Taiwan if the island moves towards independence," endangers regional peace and stability.
"We view the adoption of the anti-secession law as unfortunate. It does not serve the purpose of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was expected to discuss the new legislation, which she has warned "raises tensions," during a week-long trip to Asia that includes a stop in China.
McClellan did not spell out a precise response from Washington and restated US support for the "one China" policy and said the United States "does not support Taiwan independence."
"We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. We don`t want to see a unilateral attempt that would increase tensions in the region. So this is not helpful," said the spokesman.
"The Taiwan Relations Act clearly states that any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means is a threat to peace and security in the region," he said.
The 1979 act established the US-Taiwan alliance after Washington shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, and committed the United States to sell arms to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province.
McClellan`s comments came not long after China`s parliament passed the new legislation, which takes effect immediately, drawing an angry retort from Taipei which said it was an authorization for war.
The National People`s Congress passed the legislation as it closed its 10-day annual session, with an overwhelming majority of 2,896 votes for the law and none against. Two delegates abstained.
Taiwan lawmakers burnt a Chinese flag and called for one million Taiwanese to rally in protest, while the United States and Japan voiced concern.
The text of the 10-article law, according to the official Xinhua news agency, calls for the use of "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China`s sovereignty and territorial integrity," if all else fails.
This will be necessary "in the event that the `Taiwan independence` secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan`s secession from China," the law said.
The law does not spell out what is meant by "non-peaceful means" but analysts believe it would cover anything from a naval blockade to surgical missile strikes and an all-out invasion.
"We believe it runs counter to recent progress in cross-strait relations. The law, as you are well aware, allows for non-peaceful means directed at Taiwan, and we oppose any attempts to determine the future of Taiwan by anything other than peaceful means," said McClellan.
On Sunday, Rice told ABC television that neither saber-rattling by China nor moves towards independence in Taiwan had been helpful to preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits region.
"We have said to both parties that it is not helpful to have unilateral steps that raise tensions across the straits," she said on the eve of her first trip to Asia as secretary of state.
Referring to the anti-secession law, Rice said: "Clearly it raises tensions. And it`s not necessary or a good thing to raise tensions."
US President George W. Bush is expected to make an official visit to China this year, perhaps around the same time that the travels to South Korea for an Asia-Pacific summit in November, and is also expected to welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao on an official visit to the United States.
03/14/2005 16:36 GMT