Xinhua (August 10) published a 5-part White Paper titled 'The Taiwan Question and China's

Reunification in the New Era'. In its Preamble the White Paper asserts that "Resolving the

Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is a shared aspiration of all the

sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. It is indispensable for the realization of China's

rejuvenation. It is also a historic mission of the Communist Party of China (CPC)." Declaring

that "Any Attempt by Separatist Forces to Prevent Reunification Is Bound to Fail" it warned

that moves to separate Taiwan from China are doomed to fail, and accused the DPP authorities

of adopting "a separatist stance", and said they had "colluded with external forces in successive

provocative actions designed to divide the country. They refuse to recognize the one-China

principle, and distort and deny the 1992 Consensus". It added "They incite radical separatists

in and outside the DPP" , "have steadily built up their military forces with the intention of

pursuing "independence" and preventing reunification by force" and have joined "with external

forces in trying to sow the seeds of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". ... These are

obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification". It said,

"External interference is a prominent obstacle to China's reunification" and that "Still lost in

delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, some forces in the US insist on

perceiving and portraying China as a major strategic adversary and a serious long-term threat".

It reiterated that "The Taiwan question is an internal affair that involves China's core interests

and the Chinese people's national sentiments, and no external interference will be tolerated"

and, interestingly, assured "Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling  circumstances. We will only be forced to take drastic measures to respond to the provocation of separatist elements or external forces should they ever cross our red lines". It noted that "Some forces in the US are making every effort to incite groups inside Taiwan to stir up trouble and use Taiwan as a pawn against China. This has jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits". (Comment: This is the third White Paper on Taiwan, the first two being in 1993 and 2000. Among the interesting points is that the paper seems to imply reunification "in the New Era". While it underplays the use of force it does not rule out the possibility, but it does appear to sharpen the focus on Taiwan's DPP and the US and says, unlike in earlier papers, that Beijing will take full charge after reunification.)