¡¡  BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- The Anti-Secession Law that has gone into effect Monday, March 14, 2005 provides a strong legal defense to the common aspiration of all the Chinese people to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensures the maximal respect and guaranty to the bright future of the motherland's peaceful reunification and the fundamental interests of all the Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    Contrary to the allegations spread by a very tiny handful of people that the law is a so-called "law on the use of force against Taiwan" or even a "war mobilization order", the Anti-Secession Law is, in every aspect, a legal defense to the maintenance of peace and stability.

    First and foremost, the law is a strong defense built by the entire Chinese people to guard against, oppose and check the frequent threat and provocation of "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities with the resolute and unswerving determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese people have never had the slightest hesitation, falter or concession on the major principle issue of opposing secession.

    The Anti-Secession Law, by focused on the common will of all the Chinese people in legal form, has further maintained and safeguarded the fact widely accepted by the world that "the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China" and has therefore maintained the status quo of the cross-Straits relationsas well as peace and stability in the cross-Straits region in an even stronger manner.

    Meanwhile, the Anti-Secession Law has made a series of precise,solemn commitments to boosting the sound growth of cross-Straits relations and promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland, respected to the maximum anticipation of all Chinese compatriots across the Taiwan Straits, particularly the anticipation of the Taiwan compatriots, for peace and stability and considered to the maximal extent their personal interests and long-term benefits.

    The law precisely states that it encourages and promotes economic and cultural exchanges between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, boosts the three direct cross-Straits links,actively promotes consultations and negotiations on equal footing across the Straits and fully manifests the mainland's sincerity that all issues can be discussed on the basis of the one China principle.

    Peaceful resolution to the Taiwan issue complies with the fundamental interests of Chinese compatriots across Straits, the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese nation and the currentfor world peace and development. In accordance with the Anti-Secession Law, as long as there is still a gleam of hope for the peaceful reunification, we will redouble our efforts to achieve it.To that effect, the law provides a strong defense to the fundamental interests of Chinese compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    Maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity conforms to the core interests of the Chinese nation. China is thehome to the 1.3 billion Chinese people including the 23 million Taiwan compatriots, and any issue involving the national sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided collectivelyby the entire 1.3 billion Chinese people. On no account shall the 1.3 billion Chinese people allow the "Taiwan independence" forces to persist in secessionist activities.

    The law also states explicitly that the non-peaceful means to curb secession and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity targets at "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces andby no means the Taiwan compatriots. Meanwhile, the state will exert all possibilities to protect the safety of life, property and other legitimate rights and interests of the civilians in Taiwan and will protect the rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots elsewhere in China in accordance with law.

    To Chinese compatriots across the Taiwan Straits that uphold national reunification, the Anti-Secession Law is undoubtedly a legal defense, one that safeguards to the maximum their fundamental interests. The law that represents the common will of all the 1.3 billion Chinese people will naturally win the extensive endorsement and support of all the Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    The law, however, overawes the very tiny handful of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and it is no surprise that they are terrified at it and do all they can to stigmatize it.

    But, after all, the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces do not represent the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots. The future of cross-Straits relations eventually lie in the hands of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, Taiwan compatriots included.

    Upon the smooth passage of the Anti-Secession Law, we sincerelyhope that the broad masses of the Taiwan compatriots will understand rationally, sober-mindedly and objectively our sincere desire to maintain peace in the cross-Straits region, improve cross-Straits relations and protect the interests of the entire Chinese compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    We hope the Taiwan compatriots will not be cheated or deluded by "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and will join the mainland compatriots in their utmost efforts to bring the cross-Straits situation toward peace and stability. Enditem