CHINESE IN BEIJING READ EDITORIAL ON TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE, 2000 (photo)

A Chinese woman in Beijing April 9 reads an editorial in a state newspaper which warns Taipei that "Beijing will not allow Taiwan independence in any form." China's state media blasted Taiwan's vice president-elect Annette Lu as a separatist as Beijing cranked up its campaign of invective against the island's newly elected government. Xinhua news agency confirmed that Communist authorities had abandoned their wait-and-see stance towards incoming Chen Shui-bian's administration. The blunt attack against Chen and his independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party six weeks before its May 20 inauguration ends a moderate stance that had won China international praise since last month's Taiwan elections. A photo of last year's military excercise by Chinese soldiers in Zhejiang province accompanied the article. ASW/PB