Taiwan's leader Chen Shui-bian has unscrupulously fanned anti-mainland feeling in a selfish and "extremely immoral" bid to win votes in the coming election, and his action was "extremely immoral," said Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, Wednesday.

In order to win more votes, Chen even proposed a "holy war" against the mainland in his speech on Monday. "His actions go against the will of Taiwanese compatriots to seek peace, stability and development," Zhang said.

Zhang said Chen had continuously violated the one China principle since taking power by his provocative claims and policies. He deceived the Taiwan public and the international community by reneging on promises in his May 2000 inaugural speech not to declare Taiwan independence, nor to incorporate the "two states" remarks into its constitution, nor to change the so-called country's name, nor to call a referendum on independence during his tenure.

The office issued an official document on Dec. 25, reiterating the mainland's basic stand and policies on the "three direct links" across the Taiwan Straits -- direct links in mail, transport and trade.

Given the situation caused by the Taiwan authorities, in which dialogue and consultation between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) cannot be resumed, it could be feasible for non-governmental trade organizations on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to conduct consultations on the "three direct links" issue, according to a document published by the office on Dec. 17 to promote the "three direct links."

Most Taiwan business people had a positive attitude on the document, and the Taiwan authority's political stand was the biggest obstacle to realizing the "three direct links," Zhang said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao reiterated China's adherence to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" in a meeting with the presidents of associations of Taiwan enterprises on the mainland on Dec. 25.

Hu said the central government welcomed and encouraged Taiwan compatriots to invest in and develop trade and businesses on the mainland, and would support whatever encouraged Taiwan people to develop businesses on the mainland, whatever benefited the economy, science, technology and culture exchanges and cooperation across the Straits and whatever helped the development of relations and peaceful reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2004)