Tuesday, March 8 2005 11:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: China today (Mar 8, 2005) unveiled its controversial anti-secession law, which warned archrival Taiwan that, though Beijing would prefer peaceful means for national reunification, it was not averse to use "non-peaceful" means, as a last resort to prevent 'Taiwan independence'.

"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," the draft law tabled in the National People's Congress (NPC), China's Parliament, says.

The draft legislation provides that, in the event that the 'Taiwan independence' forces should act under any name or by any means to cause Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the State shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We have never forsworn the use of force. No sovereign State can tolerate secession and every sovereign State has the right to use necessary means to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," it says.

The draft legislation also provides that the State Council (Chinese Cabinet) and the Central Military Commission (the top military organ) are authorised to decide on and execute non-peaceful means and other necessary measures, and promptly report to the Standing Committee of the NPC, the top legislative body.