China renews threats of war against Taiwan

Beijing wound back pressure on the island after the presidential poll victory of Chen Shui-Bian on March 18, from pre-election threats of war if reunification talks were put off for too long.

In recent days however, China has launched a vitriolic attack against Lu, who it has labelled a "lunatic, traitor and scum of the nation" for stressing Taiwan’s sovereignty.

While Saturday’s editorial failed to mention Chen, it lumped Lu with outgoing President Lee Teng-hui, accusing them of trying to push Taiwan towards declaring independence, a move which Beijing has said would be tantamount to war.

"We warn anyone who advocates Taiwan independence, including Annette Lu, that Lee Teng-hui’s separatist stance will lead to a dead end." It accused Lu of "shameless and unforgivable behaviour of betraying the motherland". Unbowed by Beijing’s attacks, Lu warned on Friday of possible "irrational" strategic moves by Beijing after Chen’s May 20 presidential inauguration and called on world leaders to adopt preventive diplomacy.