But island fails to spell out strong retaliatory measures to back rhetoric
Taiwan yesterday strongly condemned the mainland for enacting the anti-secession law but failed to spell out strong retaliatory steps in support of its rhetoric.
Analysts said the absence of any concrete retaliation heeded US calls for Taiwan to refrain from taking drastic action that could further complicate the situation.
Apart from demanding an apology from the mainland and branding the anti-secession law as a war decree that would upset cross-strait and regional stability, Taiwanese authorities said they would put off consideration of further liberalisation of links with the mainland.
'The best counter-measure is to have the international community condemn China,' said Joseph Wu Jau-shieh, head of the island's top mainland policy planning body, the Mainland Affairs Council.
'We will take into consideration the effect of the law and the emotion of the people in assessing our cross-strait policy.'
Asked if there would be any concrete action taken against the mainland, Mr Wu said Taiwan would not consider direct charter cargo flights or holiday passenger flights for the time being.