Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Scottish independence is "seen as a disruptive force that threatens unity and stability, to be condemned," this according to an editorial in The Global Times that appeared on the day 4 million Scottish voters are set to cast their ballot to decide whether to separate from the United Kingdom after more than 300 years.
The thrust of the opinion is not its rejection of Scottish independence, but its rejection of British-style referendums per se. in fact, for The Global Times, the Scottish independence referendum has pushed the union to the cliff's edge.
If Scotland became independent, David Cameron would go down in history as a "criminal" who presided over a break-up. Conversely, if the bid is rejected, Cameron's government has to stop the independence movement and prevent its serious consequences.
For the Beijing-based newspaper, the democratic choice of the referendum is like a baby tantrum, warning that "if a child knew it could get milk by crying", this could became normal behaviour in British politics. Thus, the country would "never have peace".
Going a step further, the paper clearly indicated not only its support for British union over Scottish independence, but also stressed its rejection of the referendum per se.
Deploying the same terms and expressions that the Chinese communist government often trots out in its propaganda on national unity, the editorial warned of the poll's potential impact on developments in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, insisting that "With its complex history and ethnic diversity, China cannot afford to play this British game [of independence]".