TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Saturday called for a million people to take to the streets of Taipei on March 26 to protest against China's anti-secession bill, which allows for the use of force against the island.
Chen, in his first public comments on the proposed Chinese legislation since Beijing unveiled its details on March 8, called China "a major threat to regional stability" and said the legislation would increase tension in the Taiwan Strait.
"The anti-secession law will allow China to completely ignore the freedom and right of choice of Taiwan people, and seek to unilaterally determine Taiwan's future," Chen told a meeting of his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
"All people, all families should mobilize and take part in the rally for democracy, peace and the protection of Taiwan," he said, calling for 1 million people to join the march.
China's parliament is expected to pass the anti-secession bill on Monday, which would allow the 2.5-million-strong People's Liberation Army to thwart any independence bid by Taiwan.
The bill is viewed by analysts as Beijing's bid to deter Chen from pushing for a formal split from China before the end of his second, and final, term in 2008.
China views democratically ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be brought back to the fold, by force if necessary. The two sides have been political and military rivals since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
Apparently seeking to soothe fears in Taiwan, the United States and Japan, the anti-secession bill said "non-peaceful" means were a last resort, leaving China options other than attack, such as economic sanctions or naval blockades.
UNHELPFUL BILL
Washington, which recognizes China but has treaty obligations to help Taiwan defend itself, has called the bill unhelpful and urged Beijing to reconsider the legislation.
"The so-called 'non-peaceful' measures violate a consensus by the international society that the conflict in the Taiwan Strait should be resolved through peaceful dialogue," Chen said.
He said China has pointed 706 missiles at Taiwan and is increasing its arsenal by 120 missiles a year. He called on the European Union not to lift its ban on arms sales to China until the mainland improves its human rights record.
Chen said passage of the legislation would reverse improved sentiment between the arch-rivals since they exchanged their first non-stop charter flights during the Lunar New Year holiday in February.
"The anti-secession law will just cause the opposite effect and two sides of the Taiwan Strait will split further," the president said. "It will cause the peaceful temperature between the two sides to drop again to freezing point."
He said China's leaders should not misread the situation and ignore the rights of Taiwan's 23 million people, urging Beijing to make constructive contributions to cross-strait relations.
The DPP had planned to mobilize half a million people around the island to join the protest, but Chen called for 1 million.
He cited the 500,000-strong march in Hong Kong last July, which drew global attention to the former British colony's demands for more democracy from China.
"Taiwan is not a part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). They are a part of the PRC and yet they were not afraid. If they can do it, why can't Taiwan?" Chen said.
Sat Mar 12, 2005 07:10 AM ET By Baker Li
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