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from Agence France-Press via The Age, 2000-Feb-28, by Yeh Ching in Taipei:

Taiwan bites back at China's invasion threat
China is like a hooligan

Taiwan's President, Mr Lee Teng-hui, has called China a "hooligan" for threatening to invade unless there is willing reunification with the mainland. He again demanded the island be treated as an equal.

"Communist China says it is going to use force if we don't talk with them. It's hegemony. China is like a hooligan," said Mr Lee, who is to retire in May.

"Taiwan-China ties are special state-state relations. It's the basis, nothing else. Only under the fundamental framework can we talk."

Last Monday China warned Taiwan for the first time that repeated rejection of reunification talks would lead to war.

Capitalist Taiwan split from the mainland in 1949 when the communists won China's civil war. Both have since laid claim to be the "real" China.

Calls for Taiwan's re-absorption have grown since the handover of Hong Kong and Macau.

Although Beijing did not react immediately, Mr Lee's remarks can only further infuriate mainland leaders.

Last year when Mr Lee said ties were on a "state to state" basis, the communist leadership in Beijing launched vitriolic and personal attacks.

Yesterday he reiterated Taiwan's independence, warning Beijing that military threats and diplomatic pressure would only deepen cross-strait tensions.