China Turns Up Heat on Taiwan.

Premier Zhu Rongji, betraying China_s growing alarm at the prospect of a pro-independence candidate winning Taiwan_s presidential elections, issued a blunt warning to voters on the island on Wednesday. Taiwan immediately rebuked him, saying he had no right to comment on the island_s democratic vote. Raising his voice and jabbing his finger in the air, Zhu warned at a news conference that relations with Taiwan were at a crossroads, and he urged voters not to act ``on impulse'' and make a decision they would regret in Saturday_s elections. He did not mention names, but he was clearly referring to Chen Shui-bian, standard-bearer for the Democratic Progressive Party, which openly espouses independence. Zhu repeated Beijing_s long-standing threat to use force to prevent Taiwan from breaking away. And he said those who argued that China did not have the missiles, ships or aircraft to invade Taiwan misread history and Chinese were ready to ``shed blood'' to prevent the island from going its own way. ``Let me advise all these people in Taiwan: do not just act on impulse at this juncture which will decide the future course that China and Taiwan will follow,'' Zhu said. ``Otherwise, I_m afraid you won_t get another opportunity to regret,'' he added, using a Chinese idiom. Zhu's comments at what has become his annual news conference at the end of the annual session of parliament were carried live on Taiwan cable television stations. Taiwan_s top official on mainland China, Su Chi, said Zhu had ``no right to say anything about our election.''