Deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), who have Taiwan backgrounds and represent the island province, expressed indignation and condemnation on Thursday against Taiwan authorities' recent decision to designate March 14 as Taiwan's "anti-aggression day."

Such an "absurd and shameful" move by the "Taiwan independence" forces is a continued provocation against the mainland and will only further sabotage cross-Straits relations, deputies said at a panel meeting discussing the report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee.

Taiwan deputy Fan Zengsheng said that naming March 14, the approval date of the Anti-secession Law at the NPC session last year, as the so-called "anti-aggression day" is absurd, because " both the mainland and Taiwan are of one family."

"The real intention of Taiwan authorities is to distort the original purpose of the legislation in an attempt to cheat Taiwan people and stir up hostility," he said.

The Taiwan question has become a spotlight issue at the current session of the 10th NPC, following the announcement of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian that the "National Unification Council" shall cease to function and its guidelines cease to apply.

Chen Yunying, another NPC deputy, said that the recent activities of Taiwan authorities have seriously hurt the feelings of people across the Taiwan Straits.

"It's distasteful for the Taiwan authorities to put a huge bet on their personal political benefits at the price of interests of people across the Straits," Chen said.

In response to a question from a journalist attending the panel discussion, Fan said that cross-Straits tension was mitigated over the past year, but "trouble-maker" Chen Shui-bian made moves one after another to create tension and destabilize the cross-Straits situation.

The mainland's consistent policy of maintaining cross-Straits stability and caring for the common and long-term interests of Taiwan compatriots will remain unchanged.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said in his work report to the legislature Thursday morning that the Anti-secession Law "has played an important role and exerted far-reaching impact" in checking "Taiwan independence" activities, and "demonstrates our utmost sincerity for peaceful reunification and our resolute opposition to 'Taiwan independence'. "

"It showcases the common will and firm determination of all Chinese people to protect state sovereignty and territorial integrity and never allow 'Taiwan independence' forces to split Taiwan from China in any name or by any means," he said.

Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said Saturday that the mainland is "surely able to do what it says" in preventing secessionist forces from splitting Taiwan from China.

"We're determined to and capable of doing this, and we have ways to do so," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2006)