Here's an update from earlier today.
Beijing downplays general's nuke comment
July 16, 2005
BEIJING (AP) — China tried to quell an uproar Saturday over a general's comment that Beijing might use nuclear weapons against the United States in a conflict over Taiwan, saying the statement was his personal opinion.
But the communist government reaffirmed that it would not permit the self-ruled island to pursue formal independence — a step Beijing says it would go to war to stop.
The U.S. State Department on Friday criticized the remark by Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, a dean at China's National Defense University, as "highly irresponsible" and asked for Chinese assurance that it didn't reflect official thinking.
Zhu told visiting Hong Kong-based reporters recently that China would respond with nuclear weapons if the United States drew its missiles and position-guided ammunition into the target zone on China's territory.
The official Xinhua News Agency said Zhu's comments were "personal views," citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry issued late Friday.
"Zhu had repeatedly emphasized that he would express personal view on the issues that the reporters were interested in," the statement said, according to Xinhua.
It did not say how China would respond to a U.S. attack or mention its nuclear readiness. China is one of five countries that have acknowledged their nuclear weapons stockpiles and agreed to negotiate toward nuclear disarmament. The other recognized nuclear states are the United States, Russia, Britain, and France.
The statement added that China would "never tolerate Taiwan independence" and would not allow "anybody with any means to separate Taiwan from the motherland."
China claims Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949, as part of its territory and has threatened to invade if the self-governing island declares formal independence or puts off talks on unification.
However, the statement said "we firmly abide by the principles of peaceful reunification."
In Taipei, an official in charge of Taiwan's policy toward Beijing said Zhu should apologize for comments that conflict with "mainstream thinking of the civilized world."
Sounds like the right move, deciding to skip this one this time. You've done far more than your fair share over the years. I just hope you don't change your mind! 
