Taipei: China wants
to reunify by 2010

China is likely to become more aggressive and may even employ military threats in a bid to reunify with Taiwan by 2010, says a study released by the Taiwanese Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission.

"Taiwan shouldn't rule out the possibility that China will set the timetable to unify with – or stage military intimidation against – Taiwan by 2010," said the 20-page report, according to the Taipei Times.

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The report said internal struggles within China could cause Beijing to become more aggressive as it works to become one of the world's superpowers. That tension, the report said, may also include attempts to expand its boundaries.

In response, the commission recommended expanding and strengthening the functions of the national security council.

Taiwan government offices "should work together to integrate the resources and elevate the functions of agencies responsible for public safety in response to China's increasing threat," said the report.

Also, the panel said Taipei should spend more money to beef up intelligence-gathering capabilities, such as investing in new technologies and stepping up training of intelligence personnel.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin refused to rule out the use of force to reunify with Taiwan in remarks to the Communist Party's 16th Congress, which opened Nov. 8. But he stressed the threat is aimed at "foreign forces" seeking to interfere over the status of the island.

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"Our position of never undertaking to renounce the use of force is not directed at our Taiwan compatriots," Jiang said. "It is aimed at the foreign forces' attempts to interfere in China's reunification and the Taiwan separatist forces' schemes for Taiwan independence."

National unification is one of three "major historical tasks" of the Communist Party and the Chinese people, said Jiang.

"No one is more eager than we are to resolve the Taiwan question through peaceful means ... (but) the Taiwan question must not be allowed to drag on indefinitely," said the Chinese leader.

As WorldNetDaily reported last year, Beijing's military leaders also have predicted war with Taiwan by 2006.

Chinese army Gen. Zhang Wannian, vice chairman of China's Central Military Command, told attendees at the Year 2000 PLA Equipment Conference in Guangzhou that "during the period of [China's] 10th five-year plan, it is certain that war will break out in the Taiwan Strait."

That five-year plan began in 2001.

Beijing has also been stepping up its military modernization plans by acquiring new fighters, warships, submarines and ballistic missiles. Also, China's Central Military Command has requested and received budget increases several times since the mid-1990s.

Despite China's technological deficit, CIA Director George Tenet told Congress Feb. 6 that Beijing still poses a threat to the U.S. and Taiwan.

"Over the past year, Beijing's military training exercises have taken on an increasingly real-world focus, emphasizing rigorous practice in operational capabilities and improving the military's actual ability to use force," Tenet told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Noting that Taiwan was still the focus of China's military buildup and modernization, Tenet said his agency believes that while the Sept. 11 attacks "changed the context of China's approach" to Washington, it didn't change Beijing's overall goal of achieving military superiority over its smaller neighbor.

China also seeks to build enough military power to at least be able to prevent the U.S. from successfully defending Taiwan in the event of a future conflict. China has repeatedly said it would reunify with Taiwan by force if necessary, he said.

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