Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's radical pro-independence moves
have finally sparked new tension in cross-Straits ties with Beijing
Tuesday, pledging to deal heavy blows to anyone who attempts to
split the island from China.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council strongly warned
yesterday that Chen's risky activities are gradually dragging 23
million Taiwan compatriots into a dangerous abyss.
In a strongly worded written statement, the office accused
Taiwan authorities led by Chen of colluding with separatist forces
and engaging in pro-independence acts under the disguise of popular
will.
"They have been plotting to cram some clauses into the
referendum law to benefit their separatist moves and create a legal
ground for a future plebiscite on independence," the statement
said.
It added that Taiwan authorities have also been attempting to
take advantage of the referendum and "constitutional" changes to
establish a so-called "Republic of Taiwan" and realize their
pro-independence goal.
The Taiwan Affairs Office described Chen's pro-independence
moves as "a very dangerous separatist act," which makes gross
provocations against the one-China principle and 1.3 billion
Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.
The separatist steps also "undermine cross-Straits relations and
threaten peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," according
to the statement.
The office stressed that Taiwan belongs to 1.3 billion Chinese
people on both the mainland and the island and cannot be separated
from the motherland by pro-independence forces.
"The Chinese Government and people stand firm and will never
back away from the fundamental principles of safeguarding national
sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said.
"Anybody who attempts to split Taiwan from China is set to
suffer a heavy blow by 1.3 billion Chinese people including our
Taiwan compatriots."
This has been the strongest warning from the mainland's top body
in charge of cross-Straits ties since Chen began to trumpet his
plans for a new "constitution" and an island-wide referendum.
The Taiwan leader has been counting on the voting strategy to
provoke the mainland in a bid to boost his chances for re-election
in next year's "presidential" campaign.
The referendum law is expected to be passed by the island's
"legislative yuan" by the end of this month while Chen has vowed to
complete "constitutional" changes in 2006.
The Taiwan Affairs Office said what Chen has done has repeatedly
betrayed his earlier commitment to refrain from pushing for
independence and exposed his true ulterior aim of splitting the
motherland.
"We respect the aspiration of Taiwan compatriots to be their own
masters but firmly oppose the Taiwan authorities' conspiracy to
promote Taiwan independence through the referendum legislation and
a plebiscite on independence," the office said.
It noted Chen's dangerous moves go against the fundamental
interests of Taiwan compatriots and are step-by-step dragging them
into an abyss.
"We solemnly warn the Taiwan authorities led by Chen not to
cheat and fool the Taiwanese public any more, wake up to the danger
at the last moment and immediately stop the evil act of splitting
the motherland through referendum legislation," the statement
said.
(China Daily November 18, 2003)