China: China said yesterday it was gravely concerned by a referendum bill in Taiwanand would never tolerate any attempt to separate the self-ruled, democratic island from the mainland.
However analysts said there was no immediate risk of confrontation after Taiwan's parliament passed a watered-down bill that fell short of allowing a vote on independence.
Beijing and Taipei split at the end of a civil war in 1949.China considers the island a runaway province.
In Taipei, Premier Yu Shyi-kun said the cabinet was considering overturning the bill.
China's policymaking Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement it was gravely concerned by the referendum bill, and was closely monitoring developments.
"We are resolutely opposed to anybody using the 'referendum bill' to engage in 'Taiwan independence' splittist activities," it said. However, the statement did not repeat longstanding threats to use force against the island.
"We will never tolerate anyone attempting to split Taiwan from China," the statement said.
A Chinese general spoke last week of possible war if Taiwan pushed ahead with independence moves.
Taiwan is expected to top the agenda when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits Washington next month.
Washington shifted its diplomatic recognition to China from Taiwan in 1979. It routinely says it backs the "one-China" policy and does not support Taiwan independence. However the US remains the island's biggest ally and arms supplier.
China's official Xinhua news agency said earlier the bill spelt "hidden trouble" hindering eventual reunification.
"Some articles of the bill still leave room for the pro-independence forces in Taiwan to conduct separatist activities and will be the hidden trouble hindering the reunification of the Chinese nation," Xinhua said in a dispatch from Taipei.
"Immediate danger has been avoided temporarily," Liu Guochen, one of China's top Taiwan watchers, told Reuters of the watered-down bill.
Lawmakers dropped the most controversial part of the legislation - a clause explicitly saying referendums can be held on independence or on changing the island's name or flag.
Instead, the bill has a clause that says a "defensive referendum" on Taiwanese sovereignty is permitted in the event of an attack from China and another article that allows referendums to approve changes to the constitution. - (Reuters)