Chen: China should not misjudge Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 13 (UPI) -- Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has asked China not to misjudge the cross-strait situation, the Taipei Times reported Sunday.

Chen said the people of Taiwan will not stay silent if China enacts a proposed "anti-secession" law. Beijing's National People's Congress is expected to pass the law Monday.

"If the Beijing authorities really place their hope in the people of Taiwan -- as they like to claim -- then they should not misjudge the situation. Rather, they should try to rationally respect the Taiwanese people's free will," Chen said. "[China] should make constructive contributions in ameliorating cross-strait relations rather than attempting to unilaterally legislate laws that aim to `legitimize' a military attack on Taiwan."

"In other words, the proposed anti-secession law will backfire, and end up only driving both sides of the Strait further apart," he said.