The following is the full text of the translation of the explanations on the draft Anti-Secession Law, made by Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), at the NPC session Tuesday.

                                           Explanations on the Draft Anti-Secession Law

-- By Wang Zhaoguo, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress at its Third Session on of March 8, 2005

Fellow Deputies,

I am now entrusted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) to make explanations on the Anti-Secession Law (Draft).

I. The Necessity and Feasibility of Enacting this Law

Resolving the Taiwan question and accomplishing China's complete reunification is one of the three historic tasks of our Party and our country. We have made unremitting efforts over the years to develop stronger relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and promote a peaceful reunification of the motherland. In recent years, however, the Taiwan authorities have intensified their "Taiwan independence" activities aimed at separating Taiwan from China. Among their escalating secessionist activities of various types, we should be particularly watchful that the Taiwan authorities are trying to use so-called "constitutional" or "legal" means through "referendum" or "constitutional reengineering" to back up their secessionist attempt with so-called "legality" and change the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China by separating Taiwan from China. 

Facts have shown that the secessionist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces gravely threaten China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously endanger the prospects for a peaceful reunification and severely undermine the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

They have posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. 

Formulating this Anti-Secession Law, therefore, is both necessary and timely.

In recent years, our cadres, people, personages from all walks of life and overseas Chinese communities have become increasingly vocal in their appeals for legal means to oppose and check the secessionist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces and to achieve national reunification. 

Deputies to the NPC have put forward quite a few bills and recommendations on the Taiwan-related legislation and Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have also made many proposals in this regard. All this shows that the legislative effort conforms to the will of our people. Now all necessary conditions for the legislation are in place. China's Constitution clearly stipulates, "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China. It is the inviolable duty of all Chinese people, including our compatriots in Taiwan, to accomplish the great task of reunifying the motherland. This is the constitutional ground for this legislation. The thoughts of the three generations of Chinese central collective leadership, particularly those of Comrade Deng Xiaoping and Comrade Jiang Zemin, on resolving the Taiwan question and the principles and policies adopted by China's central authorities have provided clear guidance and a policy basis for this legislation. The relevant research by jurists and Taiwan specialists has also created certain enabling conditions for this legislation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2005)