China Rejects US Appeal to Reconsider Anti-Secession Bill

  10 March 2005

China has rejected a U.S. appeal to reconsider a bill that would allow the use of force against Taiwan.

China's National People's Congress is expected to pass the controversial anti-secession law on Monday.  It would authorize military action if Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province, moves toward formal independence.

The White House Tuesday called the measure "unhelpful" and asked Beijing to reconsider.  A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Thursday called the remark "irresponsible."

Meanwhile, officials of Taiwan's pro-independence party say they will organize a protest March 26th against the proposed Chinese law.

Su Tseng-chang, chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, said Thursday that China's anti-secession bill poses an immediate threat to the democratically-ruled island.

• Email 
• Print 
• Comments