Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong stressed here on Friday that no any government in the world will recognize Taiwan's independence, which will bring physically and economically disaster to the Chinese island.

"No Asian, and I believe, no European government would recognize Taiwan's independence. To do so would earn China's permanent enmity. And China is the economic story of this century," said Goh while addressing the three-day Asian Security Conference, which opened here on Friday with the participation by a number of defense ministers and scholars from all over the world.

Goh added that US President George W. Bush has also stated that he does not support Taiwan's independence.

He did not rule out the possibility of the dangers of miscalculation over Taiwan, saying that the dangers of miscalculation are highest over Taiwan.

He noted that Chen Shui-bian took a conciliatory tone in his inauguration speech on May 20 this year, but he did not renounce independence.

He warned that If Taiwan pushes beyond a certain red line, the Chinese leaders must respond as no Chinese leadership can lose Taiwan.

Goh pointed out that the likelihood of the US being drawn into a cross-strait conflict is there if wrong signals are emitted by the US.

Should such a conflict arise, Taiwan will be physically and economically devastated, and investor confidence in the island will be shattered, the premier said, adding that if the Taiwanese know that this will be the outcome, they may pause to ask whether this price is worth paying for a bid for independence.

Goh also stressed the importance of good relations between China and the United States, saying that stable US-China relations are the foundation of East Asian stability.

"If the long-term stability of US-China relations can be assured, East Asia will grow and benefit the US as well. If there is permanent enmity between China and the US, not only will East Asian growth be set back but the entire region will be dragged down," said the premier.

As for the Korean Peninsula issue, Goh said that the six-party talks have lowered tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the issue is being managed.

The Asian Security Conference, the third of its kind since 2002,was organized by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS). Strengthening defense links and developing strong security policy are the top agenda of the conference, which is also attended by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who is to outline the US security policy for the Asia-Pacific region on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua