Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's proposal for a plebiscite in March is not in accordance with a previous pledge not to promote a referendum to change the status quo, the People's Daily said in its overseas edition.

While reports of the planned "defensive referendum" have circulated for days, details about what exactly the Taiwan voters will be asked about have only started to emerge.

President Chen said in an interview with The New York Times published Friday that the referendum will be to demand China withdraw ballistic missiles targeting the island and promise not to use force against it.

The comments could reignite tensions between China and Taiwan just as Premier Wen is preparing to depart Sunday for a three-day visit to the United States.

The People's Daily editorial was not in response to Chen's remarks in the interview, and Chinese officials were not immediately available for comments on the specific contents of the proposed referendum.

The People's Daily editorial said China's hope is for peaceful reunification with Taiwan because the island's population are "compatriots of the same flesh and blood".

"But if the Taiwan authorities and separatists collaborate to seek independence, the Chinese government and people will spare no efforts to maintain national sovereignty and territorial integrity at any cost," it warned.

China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers the island part of its terrority awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.