The draft anti-secession law is in the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots as it can prevent the "Taiwan independence" forces from leading Taiwan to a disastrous end, a non-governmental organization representing Taiwanese living on the mainland said in Beijing Monday.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Yang Guoqing, president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots (ACFTC), said: "Fundamentally speaking, the draft law is intended to protect the direct and basic interests of the Taiwan compatriots, and will provide a legal guarantee for the Taiwan compatriots' aspirations for peace, stability and development."

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), announced last month its decision to enact a law against secession. The draft version of the law will be submitted to an annual full session of the NPC, scheduled for next March, for deliberation and adoption.

"The NPC's legislative move has fully demonstrated the firm resolution of the Chinese people and government to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and therefore has won the heartfelt support of the general public, including the ACFTC," said Yang.

Yang pointed out that since the early 1990s, the "Taiwan independence" forces had continuously stepped up their efforts to legalize the concept of an "independent Taiwan" and to split the island province from China.

"The 'Taiwan independence' forces and their secessionist activities have seriously undermined the one-China principle, sabotaged the prospects for a peaceful reunification of the motherland, and harmed the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, thus constituting a serious provocation on China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region," he said.

The activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces have stirred up the strong indignation of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, who have repeatedly demanded that resolute and effective measures, including necessary legal means, be taken to crack down on any "Taiwan independence" attempts, said Yang.

"There are only a few people in Taiwan who will obstinately stick to their 'Taiwan independence' stand," said Yang. "The majority of the Taiwan compatriots are against 'Taiwan independence' and are worried that the secessionists might create incidents with disastrous consequences."

"We believe that the broad masses of the Taiwan compatriots are an important force in curbing 'Taiwan independence' and fighting secession," he added.

He finally expressed the hope that people on both sides of the straits would join hands to usher in "a bright tomorrow" for the cross-straits relations and promote the prospects of peaceful reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2005)