-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! China army ready to smash Taiwan "splittists" Updated 2:40 AM ET March 6, 2000 BEIJING, March 6 (Reuters) - China's military kept up the rhetoric against Taiwan on Monday ahead of the island's presidential election, with the main army newspaper saying troops were ready to "resolutely smash" any move towards independence. "Taiwan independence means war," blared the headline of a front-page commentary in the Liberation Army Daily, echoing a phrase used by a top Chinese general in a speech to parliament on Sunday. Central Military Commission vice-chairman Zhang Wannian said independence forces in Taiwan were "walking ever further down the road towards splitting the motherland." The Liberation Army Daily said the military were ready for battle to prevent such an outcome. "The millions of soldiers of the People's Liberation Army stand in full battle array and on high alert against Taiwan independence and splittist forces," the commentary said. It repeated a threat issued in a policy white paper last month that China would use military force if the island dragged its heels indefinitely on reunification talks. Previously, Beijing had threatened to attack Taiwan only if it declared independence or if it was invaded by foreign forces. "We will adopt any measures to resolutely smash any scheme to split China, and then realise the total reunification of the motherland," the army newspaper said. Taiwan is holding a hotly contested presidential election on March 18 in which one of the three front-runners, Chen Shui-bian, is the standard-bearer for a party that espouses independence. Taiwan independence featured as a major issue at the opening of the National People's Congress in Beijing on Sunday, with Premier Zhu Rongji warning China would not "sit idly by" and watch attempts by Taiwan to break away from the mainland. On Saturday, President Jiang Zemin threatened "drastic measures" if Taiwan delayed reunification talks indefinitely. **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
