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 The BBC's Raphael Jesurum reports"China's warning has clearly had an impact"  real 28k |
'Patience' plea to China
Taiwan: Gripped by election fever
The United States summoned China's ambassador to urge Beijing to tone down its warnings to Taiwan ahead of Saturday's presidential elections.
The move came after Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji warned voters in Taiwan, which Beijing considers a Renegade province, that they might not get a second chance if they backed a pro-independence candidate.
US Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering called in Ambassador Li Zhao Xing "to discuss the importance of prudence and patience before and after the Taiwan election".
State department spokesman James Rubin said of Zhu's warning: "In general we don't think statements of the kind that were mentioned are helpful."
He added: "Instead we want to see statements that foster dialogue and make it more likely to resolve this issue peacefully."
Heightened alert
On Thursday, Taiwan put its military forces on heightened alert after Chinese threats of military action.
The Chinese cabinet issued a white paper on 21 February setting out three scenarios under which it could use force:
"With respect to the use of force, let me say categorically that we reject the use of force as an attempt to resolve cross-strait differences," Mr Rubin said.
Candidates remain firm
Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Shui-bian called on voters not to be influenced by China's aggressive rhetoric.
Reacting to the Chinese premier's warnings, he said: "Beijing authorities should recognise that threats will only make Taiwan walk farther away and disrupt normalisation of cross-strait relations."
The president "should be chosen by the Taiwan people, and Beijing authorities should not interfere", he added.
The US Defence Secretary, William Cohen said there was no evidence of Chinese preparations for an attack on Taiwan.
But he said both countries should back away from their confrontational position and try to reconcile their differences through negotiations.
Close result
Vice-President Lien Chan, the ruling party candidate, also rebuked Zhu Rongji, saying "no person or country, including Communist China, is in a position to intervene in Taiwan's democratic elections".
He reiterated his opposition to independence for Taiwan, but said the country did not need lectures from outside.
Independent candidate James Soong said Taiwan "would not accept threats of military force".
Market jitters
China has considered Taiwan a renegade province since the communists won the civil war in 1949.
It conducted war games near Taiwan in the run-up to the island's first presidential elections in 1996.
As China maintained its ideological attack, the Taiwanese authorities intervened in the country's stock market on Thursday, buying heavily after the Taiex index lost over 4.5% of its value in early trading.
The move came after Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji warned voters in Taiwan, which Beijing considers a Renegade province, that they might not get a second chance if they backed a pro-independence candidate.
US Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering called in Ambassador Li Zhao Xing "to discuss the importance of prudence and patience before and after the Taiwan election".
 On a Beijing newsstand a headline reads: "Taiwan is very tense" |
He added: "Instead we want to see statements that foster dialogue and make it more likely to resolve this issue peacefully."
Heightened alert
On Thursday, Taiwan put its military forces on heightened alert after Chinese threats of military action.
The Chinese cabinet issued a white paper on 21 February setting out three scenarios under which it could use force:
- if the island declared independence
- if it were invaded by a foreign power
- if it dragged its heels indefinitely on reunification
"With respect to the use of force, let me say categorically that we reject the use of force as an attempt to resolve cross-strait differences," Mr Rubin said.
Candidates remain firm
Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate Chen Shui-bian called on voters not to be influenced by China's aggressive rhetoric.
 Voters have been urged to ignore China's rhetoric |
The president "should be chosen by the Taiwan people, and Beijing authorities should not interfere", he added.
The US Defence Secretary, William Cohen said there was no evidence of Chinese preparations for an attack on Taiwan.
But he said both countries should back away from their confrontational position and try to reconcile their differences through negotiations.
Close result
Vice-President Lien Chan, the ruling party candidate, also rebuked Zhu Rongji, saying "no person or country, including Communist China, is in a position to intervene in Taiwan's democratic elections".
 Front-page news: Zhu Rongji's speech was widely reported in Taiwan |
Independent candidate James Soong said Taiwan "would not accept threats of military force".
Market jitters
China has considered Taiwan a renegade province since the communists won the civil war in 1949.
It conducted war games near Taiwan in the run-up to the island's first presidential elections in 1996.
As China maintained its ideological attack, the Taiwanese authorities intervened in the country's stock market on Thursday, buying heavily after the Taiex index lost over 4.5% of its value in early trading.
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