March 6, 1999
Web posted at: 2:01 a.m. EST (0701 GMT)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Former U.S. defense secretary William Perry is scheduled to visit Taiwan Sunday amid warnings from China that any attempt by Washington to shelter its rival under a missile defense umbrella would lead to serious consequences.

A senior Chinese official warned the United States late on Friday that any attempt to bring Taiwan under the proposed Theater Missile Defense (TMD) system in Asia would amount to direct U.S. military involvement in Taiwan and encourage pro-independence forces on the island.

Such a move by Washington would be the "last straw," the official said.

Washington has said the threat of North Korean missiles was behind its proposal for a regional missile defense system.

A Taiwan foreign ministry official said Perry would arrive in Taipei on Sunday and was scheduled to leave on Monday.

The official declined to confirm local newspaper reports that Perry would meet President Lee Teng-hui and other senior government officials to discuss Taiwan-China relations.

"Mr. Perry's visit schedule is still under arrangement," he said. He declined to elaborate.

Earlier on Friday, Chinese President Jiang Zemin told Perry in Beijing that differences between the two nations should be "treated with circumspection," the Xinhua news agency said.

Jiang said the Taiwan issue has always been the most sensitive and important factor in Sino-U.S. ties.

He said bilateral ties could move forward in a stable and healthy manner only if the United States abided by a joint communique in which Washington pledged to reduce arms sales to Taiwan.

Beijing argues the missile plan would fuel independence sentiment in Taiwan and is a violation of the communique.

China regards Taiwan as a rebel province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland. It has threatened to invade if the island declares independence.

The State Department has said Perry, special adviser to President Bill Clinton, would also make stops in Seoul and Tokyo.

Perry is examining U.S. policy toward the Communist regime in North Korea.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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