China today passed a law authorising the Chinese army to attack Taiwan if the self-governing island tries to move towards independence.

Only two delegates abstained in the otherwise unanimous vote by the National People’s Congress to approve the use of "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The legislation does not specify what is meant by "non-peaceful means", but analysts believe it would cover anything from blockade to surgical missile strikes and all-out invasion.

The law takes effect immediately.

On his appointment yesterday as China’s military leader, President Hu Jintao told the army to prepare for war to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity, in an apparent reference to Taiwan.

The status of Taiwan has been a thorn in China's side since 1949, when Nationalist troops lost the Chinese civil war on the mainland and fled to the island, setting up an independent administration.

Chinese officials have stressed repeatedly their desire for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, saying force is a last resort and putting the issue back in the hands of Taiwan's leaders.

The law also calls for civilian, educational, scientific, cultural, health and sports exchanges with Taiwan, the lifting of a ban by the island on direct air and shipping links, and offers talks to end hostility and lead to peaceful reunification.

Analysts say that China appears to be trying to deter Chen Shui-bian, the Taiwanese President, from pushing for independence during his second and final term that ends in 2008.

President Chen earlier denounced the Bill as a threat to regional security and sought to rally Taiwan against it. His Democratic Progressive Party plans a 500,000-strong protest march later this month.

"I don’t think they will immediately attack after enacting this legislation," said Jin Zhong, a veteran China watcher and publisher of Hong Kong’s Open weekly magazine.

Washington is the island's main supporter and arms supplier, and the White House has asked China to reconsider its stance. The new law will feature in talks between Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, and her Chinese counterpart, Li Zhaoxing, in Beijing next week.

Trade, investment and tourism have boomed since the late 1980s, but tensions have been simmering since fence-mending dialogue was frozen in 1999 and President Chen swept to power in 2000.

Scott McLellan, a White House spokesman, said: "We view the adoption of the anti-secession law as unfortunate. It does not serve the purpose of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

At the same time, he restated US support for the "one China" policy, whereby Taiwan remains part of China although with its own political system. Washington "does not support Taiwan independence", he warned.

"We oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo. We don’t want to see any unilateral attempts that would increase tensions in the region," said Mr McClellan.

But Russia backed China, saying that it could understand the country's motives. The Foreign Ministry said the Moscow was opposed to independence for Taiwan, and that Taiwan's status was an internal matter for China, Russia's main strategic partner in Asia.

The ministry said the new law stressed China’s commitment to giving priority to peaceful methods to unify the country under the "one state - two systems system."

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