The cross-Straits relations will face severe challenges this year, as the Taiwan authorities' efforts to seek 'de jure independence' through the so-called 'constitutional reform' might enter into a substantive' stage, a spokesman of China's top legislature Sunday said in Beijing.

A series of "de-sinicizing" moves recently adopted by the Taiwan authorities in an apparent push for secession showed strains on mainland-Taiwan relations were lurking around, said Jiang Enzhu, spokesman for the annual session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference.

Two elections in Taiwan, namely the election of the "Legislative Yuan" at the end of this year and the Taiwan leader election in 2008, are expected to bring changes to the political environment on the island.

"No difficulties may challenge our faith in maintaining the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations, nor can any new troubles sway our determination to check "Taiwan independence," Jiang said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2007)