Pro-reunification camps accused Taiwan-independence elements Thursday of putting cross-Straits relations on a dangerous course and defying the true will of a majority of Taiwanese.

"Achieving peace, stability and development is the leading desire in Taiwan," said Su Minsheng, vice-president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.

Su said they strongly oppose any attempt by Taiwan's new leader to use "localization" to undermine Taiwan compatriots' recognition of the motherland.

Beijing has extended an encouraging voice and said it is now up to Taipei to show it, too.

A list of "gradual Taiwan-independence" steps that have been taken was released at a seminar Thursday in honour of the seventh anniversary of President Jiang Zemin's speech on the Taiwan question.

The list includes recent decisions by Taiwan authorities to print "Taiwan" on passport covers and by the "government information office" to abandon its logo of the map of China.

Analysts have long said that a win-win situation would be created if both sides normalized their trade relationship.

Now that both sides have joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), Taipei should not "pay lip service" to its new mainland policy of "active opening, effective management," said Lu Xianchi, president of the Beijing Association of Taiwan Compatriots.

Although Taiwan has replaced its "no haste, be patient" policy with "active opening, effective management," on paper, it still puts strict restrictions on agricultural products and other imports from the mainland and on investments bound for the mainland.

Direct trading with the mainland remains banned, and Taiwan-Mainland trade is made via third territories, mainly Hong Kong.

Taiwan's new leader should make a concerted effort to better relations so as to enhance Taiwanese entrepreneurs' business developments, said Cai Guoxiong, vice-director of the Beijing Committee of Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

He said the tension across the Straits can be eased if Taiwan authorities commit to the one-China policy.

Some Taiwanese scholars are trying to convince Taiwanese authorities to recognize that only under the frame of one-China can both sides speed up economic integration and break the political deadlock.

Li Jiaquan, a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, said the Taiwanese public will actively promote the improvement of cross-Straits ties because reunification is a long-held desire there.

(China Daily 01/25/2002)