BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Chinese lawmaker told parliament Tuesday that enacting a draft Anti-Secession Law is both "necessary" and "timely."

    "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," said Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC),China's top legislature.

    "They have posed a serious threat to peace and stability in theTaiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole," he said when he made explanations on the draft Anti-Secession Law to the ongoing NPC annual session.

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

    "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," he said. "In recent years, however, the Taiwan authorities have intensified their 'Taiwan independence' activities aimed at separating Taiwan from China."

    Wang stressed that among the escalating secessionist activitiesof 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."

    In recent years, he said, people 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 with the will of our people," Wang said. "Now all necessary conditions for the legislation are in place."

    China's Constitution stipulates that "Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People's Republic of China" and "it is theinviolable 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," he said.

    The relevant research by jurists and Taiwan specialists has also created certain enabling conditions for this legislation, said Wang.

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