China warns on Taiwan crisis

david.zh

<FONT size=1>Friday, March 26, 2004 Posted: 9:17 AM EST (1417 GMT) </FONT>


<B style="FONT-SIZE: 14px">BEIJING, China (AP) -- China warned Friday it would not "look on unconcerned" if the political crisis worsens in Taiwan following a disputed presidential election, the official Xinhua News Agency said.</B>


The warning, issued by the Taiwan Affairs Office, was Beijing's strongest statement since Saturday's vote, when incumbent President Chen Shui-bian won re-election on a China-bashing platform.


"The mainland side will not look on unconcerned should the post-election situation in Taiwan go out of control, leading to social turmoil, endangering lives and property of Taiwan compatriots and affecting stability across the Taiwan straits," Xinhua cited a Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman as saying.


On Friday, hundreds of Taiwanese scuffled with riot police, threw eggs and broke windows as they stormed into the headquarters of Taiwan's Central Election Commission, where officials certified the results of last weekend's presidential vote. (<A href="http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/03/26/taiwan.recount/index.html" target="_blank" ><FONT color=#333366>Full story</FONT></A>)


Challenger Lien Chan demanded a recount after Chen won by a margin of less than 0.2 percent.


Lien alleged the vote was marred by irregularities, but has yet to provide concrete evidence.


Lien has also said that the vote was unfairly influenced by a mysterious shooting the day before the elections, which lightly wounded the president and Vice President Annette Lu.


China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, but China still claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened war if the island takes formal steps toward independence.