From The New Europe:
Escalating tensions between China and Taiwan threaten to cast a dark shadow on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. From the route the Olympic torch takes to under which name and flag Taiwan athletes march into the stadium for the Games, everything suddenly seems in doubt. Taiwan’s President Chen Shui-bian’s announcement March 4 to pursue full independence from China and to change the country’s name from the current Republic of China to Taiwan was labelled a “threat to peace and stability in the region” by China.
The communist leadership in Beijing has threatened “non-peaceful means” against Taiwan if the island seeks independence or if the possibility of “peaceful reunification” is exhausted.
Yet, it remains unclear how President Chen intends to convince Taiwan’s parliament, the Legislative Yuan, to declare formal independence, adopt a new constitution and the proposed name change. He would need a three-quarters majority for that to succeed; however, his governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is in the minority.[Full Text]
