China's latest white paper on national defense lists "the vicious rise of the 'Taiwan independence' forces" as one of the factors having major impact on China's security, which experts said is an objective assessment of China's current security situation.

The 85-page white paper, the fifth of its kind since 1995, was titled "China's National Defense in 2004" and released last Monday by the Information Office of the State Council, China's cabinet.

The paper says, "The separatist activities of the 'Taiwan independence' forces have increasingly become the biggest immediate threat to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as peace and stability on both sides of the Taiwan Straitsand the Asia-Pacific region as a whole."

Referring to the above statement, Chen Zhou, a military expert involved in drafting four defense white papers, said it reflected the current "grim" situation as "'Taiwan independence' forces have gone too far on their way."

The variance, slight or significant, in the statements about Taiwan issue in earlier defense white papers mirrors what the situation is like, Chen said.

Recalling the defense white paper issued in 1998, Chen said that the Taiwan issue constituted a small part of China's security situation outlined in the paper, adding that year's defense policy didn't touch upon Taiwan at all, but said "China must have the capability to safeguard sovereignty, unity and safety."

Against the background that Lee Teng-hui, then Taiwan's leader,came up with a "two states" theory in 1999 in an attempt to split the country, China's defense white paper the following year devoted much more space to the Taiwan issue, Chen said.

"The paper correspondingly described the Taiwan Straits situation as 'complicated and grim'and for the first time laid down the specific defense policy about Taiwan and affirmed determination and responsibility of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)," Chen noted.

The term "PLA" is replaced by "China's armed forces" in the latest defense white paper, Chen said. "This is because 'China'sarmed forces' refers to a larger defense force, including PLA in both active and reserve services, armed police and militia."

Chen lauded the adoption of this term, as it "specifies in a precise way China's defense forces' responsibility in fighting 'Taiwan independence' forces."

The white paper also offers the possibility of cross-Straits talk, including the establishment of a confidence-building mechanism (CBM) in the military field, Chen stated.

According to Chen, "CBM in the military field" refers to the measures aiming at improved security environment, including cross-Straits military exchanges, transparency-building, restriction andcheck measures, setting up hotlines and information notification system between militaries cross the straits.

"This is the first time for a white paper to include a cross-Straits military CBM," Chen added.

Shen Jiru, an expert with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "China builds up its image as an open and responsible big nation by making public its evaluation of security situation and defense policy, which also work as a deterrent to forces that are hostile or attempt to pose threats to China's security.