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Article: China, Taiwan Battle With Artful Threats; Beijing Bomb Claim Vs. 'One China' Shift
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- July 16, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Last weekend, Taiwan dropped a symbolic bomb on China by
abandoning a policy that has underpinned its relations with its
prickly Communist neighbor. Today, China countered with a bombshell
of its own--the first public acknowledgment that it possesses neutron
bomb technology.
China's announcement marks a significant escalation in the war of
words raging across the Strait of Taiwan. While no one believes
China is close to deploying such a weapon near the self-ruled island
of 21 million people, analysts noted that China's announcement
referred to a tactical nuclear device that could be used in a
relatively small area--such as the region around Taiwan. Neutron
bombs are designed to kill people ...