TAIPEI -- In yet another invective directed at China, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara on Saturday said China's Jiang Zemin would be like Adolf Hitler should he attempt to unify Taiwan and the mainland by military force.

The governor spoke to reporters following his attendance at the inaugural ceremony of Taiwan's new president, Chen Shui-bian.

"When Hitler tried to absorb Austria (into Germany) by force, he was treated like a devil," he said. "I don't see any difference (between that and ) what China is trying to do (with Taiwan).