China has outlined an anti-secession bill that allows military force to head off any independence bid by Taiwan.
China would use non-peaceful means should "major incidents" entailing Taiwan's secession from China occur, or should possibilities for a peaceful reunification be completely exhausted, Mr Wang Zhaoguo, a vice-chairman of parliament, told the law-making body on today.
"Using non-peaceful means to stop secession in defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity would be our last resort when all our efforts for a peaceful reunification should prove futile," Mr Wang said, quoting from the bill.
"So long as there is a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, we will exert our utmost to make it happen rather than give it up," he said.
"Formulating this anti-secession law . . . is both necessary and timely."
In Taipei, the bill sparked an expected angry response from some but was seen by others as fairly conciliatory.
"They are the ones who make the law, they are the ones who interpret the law and they are the ones who execute the law. This is unacceptable to the people of Taiwan," said Hsiao Bi-khim, a lawmaker from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
But Chen Yuchun, a China expert at Taiwan's private Chinese Culture University, said: "'Non-peaceful means' is a lot more flexible and could include economic sanctions, a blockade, and not necessarily refer to military conflict.
"The choice of words is certainly more moderate," Mr Chen said.
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has called the legislation the biggest threat to regional stability. Thousands took part in a protest march against the bill in southern Taiwan on Sunday.
Beijing has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and threatened to attack the democratic island of 23 million if it formally declares statehood.