"Lee Teng-hui's achievement has been to make Taiwan, China's overriding problem. Chen Shui-bian has unfortunately inherited this position," Lee said, referring to Taiwan's former president and his successor, in an interview with Far Eastern Economic Review.

Chen "has to convince the mainland he is not de-sinicizing Taiwan and trying to erase its cultural and historic links with China. He should leave the door open for a future one-China," Lee told the Review.

Lee also told the latest issue of Asiaweek "(Taiwan) sees little to gain by becoming part of China but unfortunately becoming part of China is what will happen if China doesn't disintegrate.

"I do not see any country being able to prevent reunification," Lee told Asiaweek.

The Review cited Lee as saying that instead of encouraging Taiwan to think of itself as a separate state, Western powers should convince the Taiwanese that unification with China is inevitable.

"If the US can keep Taiwan separate from China indefinitely, the

Taiwanese would be eternally grateful.

"However, if Americans cannot, it is cruel to let them believe they can because as a result Taiwanese nationalists are set on the creation of a different national identity," Lee told the Review.

Lee added "there will be a moment of truth. Jiang Zemin does not want to be blamed as the man who lost Taiwan."

Escalation of tension over Taiwan is pushing China into military expansion that could turn Asia's biggest market into its biggest menace, the Review quoted Lee as saying.

Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have flared up since Chen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party was elected the president on March 18 despite Chen's pledge not to push for independence.

Chin fears that Chen's victory will lead the island toward a complete break from the mainland forcing Beijing to take military action.

Taiwan broke away from the mainland in 1949 after Chiang Kai-shek fled to the island after losing to mainland communists in a civil war. China has repeatedly said it would take the island by force if necessary.