Chen Shui-bian's attempt to promote the "referendum" on March 20 in Taiwan is a dangerous provocation and a bid to prepare for "Taiwan independence", said a military expert recently.

"Chen, just like a gambler, is leading Taiwan to the edge of war," Luo Yuan, a researcher with the Chinese PLA (People's Liberation Army) Military Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

Chen, disregarding the strong objections of the mainland and international society and acting against the fundamental interest of the Taiwan public, pushes forward the "referendum" stubbornly to help his reelection and seek "Taiwan independence" step by step, Luo said.

The mainland put forward "peaceful reunification" as a basic guideline for solving the Taiwan issue in 1979, and has made great efforts to show its goodwill, Luo said.

In 1995, President Jiang Zemin proposed the two sides should negotiate to end the hostile situation under the "one-China" principle, but Lee Teng-hui and Chen Shui-bian's "Taiwan independence" stances undermined the cross-Strait negotiations and even worsened the cross-Strait relations through increase of "Taiwan independence" provocation, Luo said.

The mainland has endured greatly the continued provocation from the Taiwan authorities, but this does not mean the mainland seeks peace with no conditions, Luo said, adding that peace cannot be gained through concessions to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

Since the Taiwan separatist activities are rampant, the mainland shoulders a great responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of China's territory and sovereignty, Luo said, noting that the mainland will try its best to seek peaceful reunification if there is still hope.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2004)