PROVOCATION

Taiwan blasts China 'provocation'.

China's leaders fear Taiwan could formally declare independence. Taiwan has condemned a new Chinese law giving Beijing the legal right to use force against the island if it moves towards declaring formal independence. Such "serious provocation" gravely affects regional security, said Joseph Wu, chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council. The White House said the adoption of the new law was "unfortunate". China sees Taiwan as its territory and says it reserves the right to use force if "peaceful reunification" fails.
The new law was passed in the final session of the Chinese parliament's annual National People's Congress by a margin of 2,896 to zero, with two abstentions. The Congress broke into applause at the passage of the so-called anti-secession law which allows for the use of "non-peaceful and other necessary measures".