{"id":31532,"date":"2009-01-20T23:16:42","date_gmt":"2009-01-21T06:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=31532"},"modified":"2009-01-20T23:16:42","modified_gmt":"2009-01-21T06:16:42","slug":"china-sees-separatist-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2009\/01\/china-sees-separatist-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"China Sees Separatist Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"
A white paper on national defense released by the State Council singled out “separatist” threats from Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang. From the New York Times<\/a>:<\/p>\n \nThe 105-page paper sought to portray China as a power that would use military force only defensively and sees territorial integrity as the top defense priority.<\/p>\n According to goals implied in the paper, China also seeks to counterbalance the American military presence in Asia. In several instances, the authors pointed out what they called worrisome aspects of American intervention.<\/p>\n […] Certain destabilizing factors outside China are growing, the paper added, singling out American arms sales to Taiwan, which could lead to \u201cserious harm to Sino-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.\u201d China considers Taiwan a breakaway province.<\/p>\n […] The white paper grouped separatist forces in Taiwan \u2014 meaning supporters of Mr. Chen and his policies \u2014 with groups that China says are seeking independence for Tibet and Xinjiang. \u201cSeparatist forces working for \u2018Taiwan independence,\u2019 \u2018East Turkestan independence\u2019 and \u2018Tibet independence\u2019 pose threats to China\u2019s unity and security,\u201d the paper said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n