A Taiwan expert said on Tuesday that recent remarks by Taiwan regional leader Chen Shui-bian have shown that Chen is a "hopeless Taiwan Independence element", and Taiwan compatriots should no longer have any illusions about him.

Guo Zhenyuan, a research fellow with China Institute of International Studies, said Chen recently claimed the 23 million people on the island of Taiwan will join together for the birth of a new constitution for Taiwan, and reaffirmed his commitment for a "referendum" as scheduled.

The existing "constitution" stipulates Taiwan is part of the " Republic of China", which is in opposition to the idea of some figures on the island that Taiwan is a separate country independent of China. The overwhelming majority of the residents in Taiwan and most countries in the world recognize Taiwan is part of China.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Guo said the remarks by Chen and other political figures were meant for electioneering in the upcoming "presidential election" in a desperate move to win votes for reelection scheduled for March of 2004.

Chen was behind in election polls, and his poor economic management records prompted him to gamble on the "independence" card for re-election.

Guo said Chen also showed his "true colors", contradicting his 2001 promise of no declaration of Taiwan independence, no incorporation of the "two states" remarks into its constitution, no change of the so-called country's name and no referendum on Taiwan independence during his tenure as leader.

Chen won the "presidential election" in 2000 by a small margin with only about one third of the votes, thanks to the split of the Kuomintang.

"The pro-independence remarks have resulted in great damage to the relations between the Taiwan Straits, posing threats to stability in the straits and peace in Asia and the Pacific region. "

"Taiwan will be plunged into chaos and problems of all kinds will be intensified if the troublemaker is not stopped," said the expert.

Guo warned the people in Taiwan, in that case, they would pay a high price for the trouble made by Chen, who aimed for "reelection " through taking advantage of chaos on the island at the expense of the general public in Taiwan, "which is extremely irresponsible ".

Most of the people in Taiwan are against "Taiwan Independence", believing both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are part of China, he said.

The mainland is consistent and firm in its opposition against " Taiwan Independence", Guo said.

(China Daily October 1, 2003)