China slammed Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian?s intensified talk of independence yesterday, saying anyone who sought a split from China would be a ?criminal in history?. Chen said on Sunday the self-ruled island should pursue independence and change its official title, the ?Republic of China?? moves that are also certain to worry its key ally, the United States, which seeks to maintain the status quo between the two sides.

?Don?t listen to local leaders,? Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told Taiwan reporters in Beijing, a reference to China?s view that Taiwan is a province rather than a country. ?Whoever wants to split away will become a criminal in history.?

China has claimed Taiwan as a renegade province since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, when the defeated Nationalists fled to the island. It has threatened war if Taipei were to declare formal independence.

China?s army made that position clear. ?As the People?s Liberation Army, we firmly oppose Taiwan independence and will safeguard the unity of the People?s Republic of China,? Chang Guixiang, a People?s Liberation Army delegate at the parliamentary session under way in Beijing, told reporters.

Shi Si Hao, with the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said Chen?s speech would not be helpful for the development of cross-Strait relations. ?I think he wants to shift the attention away from his own problems,? Shi said.

Chen?s speech on Sunday depressed Taiwan markets. The main TAIEX stock index closed down 3.74 percent yesterday and the Taiwan dollar weakened to 32.915 against the dollar.