But I Didn't

China Propaganda Office May Be Censoring the Premier By JOSEPH KAHN:

When discussing China's antisecession law aimed at Taiwan, which was enacted by the National People's Congress on Monday, Mr. Wen mentioned an American precedent for outlawing secession. The transcript included his reference to the passage of such a law in 1861, but excised Mr. Wen's follow-up:

"And after that happened, the war between the North and the South broke out. We do not wish to see that kind of outcome. We do not wish to see that kind of outcome."

It is possible that it was decided that the American law's failure to stop the Civil War undermined the rationale for passing their own law. Beijing officials have repeatedly emphasized that their law creates conditions for peace across the Taiwan Strait, even though it authorizes "nonpeaceful" means against Taiwan under certain conditions.

Political analysts in Beijing said authorities might also have felt that it was inappropriate for the prime minister to be on record plaintively bemoaning the possibility of conflict with Taiwan when the official line is that China "will pay any price" to ensure the unity of the nation.

I might have noted that, but I didn't.