Premier Vows China Will Never Let Taiwan Secede

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao vowed Saturday never to allow Taiwan “to separate from China under any name or by any means” as his nation’s parliament opened its annual session and prepared to enact an anti-secession law targeting the island.

The bill seems likely to overshadow other issues during the meeting of the largely ceremonial National People’s Congress. Wen offered few details of the planned law, which is scheduled for a March 14 vote, but Taiwan and the U.S. have described the measure as provocative.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of China and has threatened to use force against the self-governing island of 23 million if it formally declares independence. Officials say the new legislation will enshrine that threat in law, mandating a military attack against Taiwan if it were to secede.

“This law represents the common will and strong determination of the entire Chinese people to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country,” Wen said in a nationally televised speech before the legislature.

Laying out his other priorities, Wen set a target of 8% economic growth in 2005, down from the 9.5% recorded last year, signaling a renewed campaign to prevent inflation from undermining one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

In addition, Wen acknowledged “glaring problems in social development” and pledged to abolish the nation’s main agricultural tax within two years and implement new programs to ease poverty and address widespread social unrest, which the Communist Party fears is undermining its grip on power.

Wen promised that by 2007, every child could receive nine years of schooling. Children from poor families will be exempt from most fees and receive free textbooks, he said, but he did not say whether they would have to pay tuition.