A Beijing think-tank scholar yesterday played down the impact of a recent Pentagon report warning of the mainland's 'growing military threats towards Taiwan and US allies in Asia'.
But a Taipei think-tank adviser said the document would increase the island's bargaining chips if Taiwan returned to the negotiating table with the mainland.
'Generally speaking, the Pentagon report has a negative impact,' said Xi Laiwang, deputy director with the American studies office under the Beijing-based China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.
'It sends the wrong signal to Taiwan's independence movement.'
But it was too soon to conclude if the paper would have a far-reaching impact on Sino-US ties since it was only compiled by the Pentagon, which would not necessarily reflect if the White House had changed its China policies, said Dr Xi, whose institution is run by the State Security Ministry.
Citing remarks by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Dr Xi said the Bush administration had apparently not yet accepted the Pentagon's claims.
Mr Powell said recently that China's military modernisation programme would not necessarily create an immediate threat to the US, but the US would closely watch any developments.
