A Chinese official warned on Wednesday that the Chinese government would not tolerate continued attempts by Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian toward independence, and any attempt to split China would bring disaster to the people of Taiwan.

Zhang Mingqing, a spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Chen's continuing pursuit for Taiwan independence would definitely harm the fundamental interests of the general public in Taiwan and bring disaster to the people of Taiwan.

"We would not sit by and do nothing faced with provocative activities aimed at splitting the motherland," the spokesman told a regular press conference when asked to comment on the remarks that "Taiwan independence means war".

He reiterated the central government's position that "Taiwan compatriots are brothers", and "nobody in the world hopes to resolve the issue of Taiwan and achieve reunification through peaceful means more than as we do".

"We will continue to adhere to the basic policy of peaceful reunification and one country, two systems, and implement in an all-round way the eight-point proposals made by Jiang Zemin, and strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and efforts," he said.

Zhang accused Chen Shui-bian of attempting to realize his aim for Taiwan independence by using a proposed referendum and constitution, and nation-building and democracy as excuses.

The spokesman said Chen's attempts are a severe provocation of the one China principle and a great harm to the relations across the Taiwan Straits. Chinese people on the mainland and Taiwan would by no means tolerate Chen Shui-bian's attempts, he said.

Commenting on the referendum issue, Zhang said the mainland supports Taiwan compatriots in their desire to become the masters of their own and pursue democracy.

But if Taiwan authorities attempted to create a legal basis for Taiwan independence by the use of referendum or writing a constitution, "we should make strong reactions", warned the spokesman.

"The timetable for Taiwan independence is the timetable of our fight against Taiwan Independence," Zhang said.

It is the common aspiration of the Chinese people on both sides of the straits to take actions to fight against the rampant activities for Taiwan independence, the spokesman said.

The Chinese government and its people will never hesitate, compromise or concede on matters involving national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Zhang.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2003)