The Anti-Secession Law will serve as a solid line of defence to safeguard the basic interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, a non-Communist party leader said yesterday.

He Luli, chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, was speaking about how the historic law makes a clear and solemn commitment to promote the development of cross-Straits relations.

"It takes into maximum consideration the long-term well-being of Taiwan compatriots and their strong desire for peace and stability as well," she said at a forum which was held by her party in Beijing.

"Taiwan independence" will lead to instability while secession will end peace, as 1.3 billion Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots know, the chairwoman claimed.

Meanwhile so-called "secessionist activities" on the part of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan have made cross-Straits relations worse. The situation has been escalated by what Beijing sees as a desire for "constitutional" reform through referendum.

"Efforts must be made to make it clear that the Anti-Secession Law is designed to oppose and check the 'Taiwan independence secessionist activities' rather than target the civilians on the island," she said.

Li Ganliu, vice-chairman of the committee, described the adoption of the Anti-Secession Law as "timely" and "correct," saying it summarizes the principles and policies of the central government in handling the Taiwan question through legislation.

The fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China has been widely recognized by countries across the world, according to the National Association for Chinese Unification in Washington DC.

No country in the world will tolerate acts that jeopardize its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its core national interests, it said.

The few secessionists in Taiwan should not be seen as representatives of the Taiwan people, the association said.

At a gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, Andy W.P. Lee, vice-chairman of the All-Africa Association for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, said the law sends an unequivocal message to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

Lee, himself Taiwanese, said that most of the Taiwanese living in South Africa favour peaceful reunification and that secessionist acts carried out by the minority are doomed to failure.

(China Daily March 16, 2005)