Former Taiwan leader criticizes decision against China

Former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui warned that the country's decision to remove references to China from the names of state-run companies could bring trouble, the International Herald Tribune reported. The current campaign, run by President Chen Shui-bian, has three state-run firms removing the words "China" or "Chinese" from their names, replacing them with "Taiwan." Although Lee did not object to the decision, he disapproved of pushing the step forcefully as part of the election campaign. Taiwan and China have experienced political tension since their split during the civil war ending in 1949. Taiwan will hold legislative elections this December and presidential polls in March 2008.