Both overseas and domestic Chinese made statements or speeches on Tuesday denouncing Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's scrapping of a body dedicated to national unification.

They pointed out that Chen's decision to end the existence of the "National Unification Council" (NUC) and the application of the "National Unification Guidelines" ran counter to the tide of history and impaired the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots.

The European Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said in a statement that Chen's move posed a serious threat to the one-China principle widely accepted by the international community.

The group said Chen's stance not only destroyed the good momentum of the peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits relations since last year but also damaged the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots.

The European Federation of Chinese Organizations said that Chen Shui-bian was putting the Taiwan people's interests and cross-Straits peace in jeopardy by adopting a more extreme secessionist path to "Taiwan independence." His latest comments would surely spark a crisis in the Taiwan Straits and hurt peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Greek Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen had abandoned his former promises on cross-Straits relations and taken a dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence."

The group described Chen's comments as provocative. .

The French Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen's stance had been greeted with condemnation from all Chinese including the Taiwan compatriots.  International opinion was very much against him and his efforts would end in failure.

The Japanese Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen was attempting to hide his failures at the expense of the Taiwan people's security and well being. He was simply getting himself into greater difficulties.

The Cote d'Ivoire Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China commented that no matter what Chen said on promoting "Taiwan independence" he could never change the fact that historically Taiwan had been part of China since ancient times nor the fact that the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits were descended from the same ancestors.

It added that Chen's road toward "Taiwan independence" would lead him nowhere.

The Romania Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China suggested that Chen wished to distract the Taiwan public from his government's political difficulties and the island's economic dilemma.

The Mozambique Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said the Taiwan leader, was on the wrong path and running against the historical tide. He would be spurned by the people and historians.

Prominent Chinese Americans in the Washington area held a press conference on Tuesday to denounce Chen Shui-bian's latest attempt to split Taiwan away from China. Chen's latest statements showed that he was not listening to anyone on the subject of Taiwan said Dr. Huiqiu Wu, president of the Washington-based National Association for China's Peaceful Unification said at the event..

Overseas Chinese people in Spain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Cyprus and Cambodia also held seminars or made speeches to condemn Chen's decision.

Taiwan compatriots residing on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday also criticized Chen Shui-bian's decision to end the work of the "National Unification Council" and ditch the guidelines on unification.

This was regarded as a grave threat to the one-China policy which is recognized by the international community and to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, said a leading official of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSGL) Central Committee, one of the eight non-Communist parties.

The leader called on compatriots on both sides of the Straits to rally round, oppose those seeking "Taiwan independence" and work for development and prosperity across the Straits.

The "NUC" had been set up in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities headed by Lee Teng-hui. Fourteen meetings had been held since it was established. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.

The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991. They state that both the mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and the promotion of the state's reunification should be a common cause for all Chinese.

The guidelines also outlined a three-phase goal for the realization of China's reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)