Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, the government office that deals with issues concerning China, said the proposed law, which is aimed at halting any move by Taiwan to full independence, "exposed China's plot to impose armed force to swallow up Taiwan."

"In essence, it has handed its military a blank check to unleash force against Taiwan," the council said in a statement.

In an explanation of the measure, Wang Zhaoguo, a deputy president of the legislature, the National People's Congress, set out China's claim that Taiwan is a part of China and listed measures Beijing would take to encourage Taiwan to eventually accept peaceful reunification with the mainland.

Source: Indystar