The Chinese President Jiang Zemin has warned Taiwan that his government is prepared to use force should the island opt for outright independence from the mainland. The threat came with Taiwan still reeling from the devastating earthquake which struck on 21 September. President Jiang used an international gathering of business executives to remind Taiwan of China's determination to recover the island, which has been estranged from the communist-ruled mainland since 1949.
China considers Taiwan to be a renegade province.
Until then the island's government had shared the goal of reunification with the mainland. China's bitter reaction to Mr Lee's remarks included a series of threatening statements in communist-controlled newspapers in Hong Kong and the renewed threat to use force to prevent independence. Even in the aftermath of the earthquake, Beijing has repeatedly demanded that President Lee withdraw his remarks, prompting Taipei to accuse Beijing of mixing politics with relief efforts. Taiwan has rebuffed Beijing's offer to send help. In his speech, Mr Jiang once again extended condolences for the more than 2,000 deaths from the earthquake.