BBC - Thursday, 26 April, 2001, 08:39 GMT 09:39 UK

China hits back at Bush

Taiwan will get new US ships, planes and submarines China has sharply criticised comments by President George W Bush about defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Mr Bush told a US television network on Wednesday that the use of military force was "certainly an option" if China ever invaded its island neighbour.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said the US president was heading down "a dangerous road."

The statement from Beijing comes after China delivered a strong condemnation of the White House's decision earlier this week to sell Taiwan a substantial number of submarines, aircraft and destroyers.

'No change of policy'

Ms Zhang said President Bush's latest remarks "undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and will create further damage to Sino-US relations".

She added that Taiwan was a part of China, "not a protectorate of any foreign country".

In his interview with ABC, Mr Bush insisted that his comments did not indicate a change in policy, only a clarification of an existing position.

And he later seemed to play down the remarks, telling CNN: "I think it is important for people to also note that my administration strongly supports the One China policy, and we expect any dispute to be resolved peacefully."

China considers Taiwan a renegade province which must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Weapons deal

China had already attacked America's decision to sell advanced weaponry to Taiwan this week, saying it would cause devastating damage to Sino-US relations.

The US says Taiwan needs to beef up its defences in response to a growing threat from China.

Sino-US relations have been strained following the collision between an American spy plane and a Chinese fighter aircraft on 1 April.

However, President Bush has said he does not expect either the sale, or the spy plane stand-off to affect his visit to China in the autumn.

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2001