From AFP via Channel Newsasia:
Taiwan’s independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian has insisted that the island’s sovereignty lies in its own hands, rejecting Beijing’s “one-China” policy in his New Year’s message.
China and Taiwan split in 1949 at the end of a civil war but Beijing still considers the island part of its territory, to be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary.
“Hereby we must stress that Taiwan is our country. Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to 23 million people. It definitely does not belong to the People’s Republic of China,” Chen said after a national flag-hoisting ceremony.[Full Text]
– Also BBC’s China hits back at Taiwan leader:
A day later, the Chinese government made clear that it was not happy with Mr Chen’s remarks.