Yang Yi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, gestures to a reporter to ask questions during a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2007. (Xinhua File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official has lashed out at Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's "Taiwan independence" remarks made on Saturday.

    During a rally on Saturday, Chen feverishly whipped up support for his "referendum" plan on the island's entry into the United Nations, and told the lie of "Taiwan being a sovereign state."

    "The situation of the rally shows that Chen's 'referendum' plan fails to get support from the masses," a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said here Sunday.

    The issue, however, keeps developing. And "we will keep a close watch over developments on the other side of the Strait and has got prepared to cope with serious situations," said the spokesman.

    Taiwan authorities sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in July, raising an application to join the United Nations in the name of "Taiwan." Meanwhile, Chen Shui-bian has been pushing for a plan to hold a "referendum" inside Taiwan on its entry to the United Nations.

    Chen's "referendum" plan has been strongly opposed and seriously denounced by compatriots across the Taiwan Strait and international community.

    The plan was just a method for Chen to seek personal interests, said the spokesman, noting that the move was made "at the cost of jeopardizing cross-Strait peace and stability and the fundamental interests of the Taiwan people."

    The spokesman said the mainland has been endeavoring to improve cross-Strait relations with the utmost effort, but will never allow any people to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any manner.

Taiwan referendum plan rapped by Chinese in U.S., Italy, Brazil

    BEIJING, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese have been for days lashing out at the leader of the Taiwan authorities, Chen Shui-bian, over his attempt to seek United Nations membership for the island through a referendum.

    The Chinese community in Washington has sent a letter to the U.S. Congress to affirm their support for the government to continue observing the "one-China" policy regardless of the Taiwan authorities' bid for UN membership in the name of Taiwan via a referendum.  Full story

Chinese communities in California lash out at Taiwan's referendum

    LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Chinese community here on Saturday lashed out at Taiwan authorities' decision to hold a referendum on its bid for United Nations membership in the name of Taiwan.

    The leaders said such a move is a step toward independence from China and would risk further tensions and even a war between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.  Full story

Overseas Chinese condemn Taiwan referendum plan

    BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese around the world on Friday strongly denounced Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's attempt at Taiwan membership of the United Nations through a referendum.

    In Canberra, the Chinese community in Australian Capital Territory (ACT) condemned the move by Taiwan authorities.  Full story