China Denounces Taiwanese Leader
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China lashed out at rival Taiwan’s president, Chen Shui-bian, as he prepared to be inaugurated for a second term, denouncing him as a man of “bad faith” and threatening to “firmly and thoroughly” crush any moves toward independence.
The lengthy, strongly worded Chinese statement appealed to Chen to resume long-stalled talks on uniting China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 during civil war. Beijing claims the self-ruled island as its own territory.
Chinese leaders have accused Chen of making moves toward formal independence, a step that the mainland says would lead to war.
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