China won't tolerate formal independence for Taiwan, President Hu Jintao said Friday as parliament prepared to enact an anti-secession law that leaders in the self-ruled island fear could lead to a military attack. "We will continue to make our greatest efforts with the utmost sincerity to seek the prospects of peaceful reunification," Hu said at an official gathering, according to the government's Xinhua News Agency. However, he said, "We will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence' and never allow the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from the motherland under any name or by any means." The comments echoed longstanding mainland policy toward Taiwan, which has been ruled separately since 1949 but is claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. The communist government has threatened to attack if Taiwan tries to make its de facto independence permanent. China's legislature, which opens its annual session Saturday, is due to pass an anti-secession law that officials say is aimed at discouraging Taiwan from pursuing independence. --more 1320 Local Time 1020 GMT
