Li Weiyi, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday at a regular press conference that Taiwan Province leader Chen Shui-bian has blatantly thrown out remarks on "Taiwan independence" recently.

The Chinese government and people will not sit idly by if this persists, said Li.

Chen has referred to China as a foreign country and an enemy, and has recently advocated renaming overseas and international institutions and enterprises, removing the word "China" and substituting "Taiwan."

Meanwhile, he has attempted to delude the people of Taiwan and the rest of the world by creating an appearance of promoting dialogues across the Taiwan Straits and setting up a framework for peace and stability between Taiwan and the mainland, Li said.

In fact, Chen's actions have increased tensions and are the primary disturbance to stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said, while arousing indignation among the Chinese people and engendering opposition from the international community.

Li reiterated that the one-China policy is the basis for developing cross-Straits relations Any remarks and activities that violate this principle or attempt to change the fact that Taiwan is part of China run counter to the aspirations of compatriots across the Straits, who are longing for stability and development of the cross-Straits relations.

The victory of Taiwan's three opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature election has proved that the recent provocative "Taiwan independence" separatist activities have not won popular support, Li said.

Li said the post-election development of cross-Straits relations depends on the stance adopted by the Taiwan authorities. China's policy of welcoming any figure or organization from Taiwan to the mainland for discussion, development of relations and promotion of peaceful reunification extends to members of the "pan-blue" alliance.

The spokesman said that allegations made by certain persons on Taiwan island that stowaways from the mainland were a "fifth column" are baseless rumor.

Li said that when Taiwan people on the mainland encounter emergency situations, the country will help in every way it can. He implied that this may include the transport of seriously ill patients to Taiwan via the watercourse connecting the islands with the Fujian Province coast.

The mainland wishes to promote the "three direct links" across the Taiwan Straits to benefit the people on both sides of the straits and has adopted a number of measures to facilitate exchanges. For example, Taiwanese people in the mainland can charter flights to go home during the Spring Festival, a traditional season for family reunion.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)