The Chinese government lashed out at Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Monday, when a senior official on Taiwan affairs told Reuters news agency that Chen's gestures with regard to cross-Straits relations are "insincere."

"He keeps double-dealing to disguise his Taiwan independence activities, deceive international public opinion and win votes. We have already seen through his tricks," said Wang Zaixi, deputy director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office in an interview. "I am confident the international community will also clearly see his hypocrisy and true intention to promote Taiwan independence gradually."

During the interview, Wang talked about Chen's recent suggestions of remarks about tensions across the Taiwan Straits, on restarting negotiations and creating a new constitution.

The pro-independence activities of Taiwan's authorities have escalated, and his remarks have become more and more blatant, Wang said.

"I think on the surface Chen Shui-bian's remarks on relations across the Taiwan Straits have a certain kindness, but in reality they protect his Taiwan independence separatist stance," Wang said.?????

Wang said when Chen talks about restarting talks on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, he avoided the 'one-China' principle of the consensus. "Without the 'one-China' principle, what's the basis for negotiations? He is just putting up a show."

Wang said Chen's recent advocacy of creating a new constitution in 2006 that "suits the times, the body and needs," clearly contravenes his promise of "amending the constitution but not making a new constitution" and "the amendments won't touch such issues as reunification with China's mainland or Taiwan independence and sovereignty.

"Making a constitution in 2006 and establishing a 'new and normal country' in 2008 is entirely a timetable for pushing forward independence," Wang said.

He said the next several years would be a crucial, high-risk period in the development of what he referred to as "the Taiwan situation" and a period when cross-straits relations would experience a severe test.

He said the government keeps high vigilance against separatist moves advanced by Chen and won't tolerate Taiwan splitting from China through any means.

"The Chinese government has repeatedly said it will exert the utmost effort and the utmost sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification," said Wang. "The main concern is the interests of the Taiwan compatriots."

"But Chen Shui-bian's authorities are exploiting our restraint on the Taiwan issue," he said. "They are attempting to exploit the fact that the mainland compatriots are focusing energy on developing the economy and exploit our preparations for the 2008 Olympics," said Wang.

"They are trying to bind Taiwan compatriots to their separatist chariots, making Taiwan compatriots their stake and hostages. That's very immoral, irresponsible and an extremely dangerous act of playing with fire," he said.

He said the Chinese government and people will never allow anybody to separate Taiwan from China by any means and will safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity at any cost.

(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2004)