BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The development
of cross-Straits relations has reached a crucial moment and to safeguard peace is an
urgent task for compatriots on both sides, a mainland spokesman said here on
Wednesday.
Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of
the State Council, said that regardless of the opposition from Taiwan
compatriots and the international community, Chen Shui-bian clings obstinately
to secessionist activities for "Taiwan independence", including the so-called
"referendum on UN membership".
"This is a severe threat to peace and stability in
cross-Straits regions," said Yang at a regular press conference.
"To firmly curb Taiwan secessionists' independence
attempts and maintain cross-Straits peace are the most important and urgent
tasks," he said.
In the past year the Taiwan authority, led by Chen,
has increased up its secessionist activities and cross-Strait tension has risen
as a result.
"We will unite with Taiwan compatriots to firmly
oppose and curb the so-called 'Constitutional reform' and 'referendum on UN
membership' for 'De Jure Independence of Taiwan'", he said.
He said the mainland will adhere to the principle of
"peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems", the eight-point proposal
for developing relations across the Taiwan Straits and the four-point guideline
on the relations with the island.
"We will further promote cross-Straits exchanges and
implement preferential policies for Taiwan compatriots," he said.
Chen's secessionist policies have not met with much
support from islanders. Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) suffered a landslide defeat at the hands of its rival, the Kuomintang
(KMT), in "legislature" elections on Jan. 12. The KMT won 81 of the 113 seats in
the elections, beating the DPP led by Chen, which won only 27 seats.
In the wake of the defeat, Chen resigned his post as
DPP chairman to take responsibility for what he termed the most disastrous
defeat since the DPP was founded.
