Overseas Chinese communities across the world have voiced their firm support for China's adoption of the Anti-Secession Law which aims to prevent Taiwan's secession from China.

The National Association for Chinese Unification in Washington D.C., the United States, said on Tuesday that 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.

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 law, adopted with an overwhelming vote of 2,896 to nil with two abstentions, is fair and reasonable, and reflects the common wishes of all the Chinese people, Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese included, it said.

The Chinese American Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification in America gathered in New York Monday to voice its full support for China's adoption of the anti-secession law.

Professor Cheng Junfu, chairman of the group, said the law gives full expression of China's goodwill and sincerity. China has to enact this law for peace and stability in Taiwan Strait area and for the fundamental interests of the people in Taiwan. The Chinese government is seeking genuine peaceful reunification through consultation between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which constitutes the common aspiration of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan.

In a statement issued at the gathering, the group expressed full support of China's adoption of the anti-secession law, describing it as "a significant new step and a milestone in the cause of preventing Taiwan's secession from China and promoting China's reunification."

Another overseas Chinese association in New York, the New York Association for the Peaceful Reunification of China, also expressed firm support for the enforcement of China's Anti-Secession Law.

The law is a "moderate and rational" law of peace, which aims to promote peace and development across the Taiwan Strait, said the association in a statement on Monday.

The association noted that the Anti-Secession Law reflects the will of the Chinese nation and the fundamental principles of China and reiterates to the world the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the one and same China.

In Japan, Fu Yihen, chairman of the Tokyo Overseas Chinese Association, said the adoption of the Anti-Secession Law was a further demonstration of China's policy of governing the country according to law.

The law serves as a solid legal basis for safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and handling the Taiwan issue, he said.

Chinese groups in western Japan Tuesday issued a statement, which said the law was an act of peace aiming to maintain the peaceful situation across the Taiwan Strait and the smooth development of cross-strait relations.

Overseas Chinese associations and groups in Germany, France, Italy, Britain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Iceland, Canada, Russia, Cyprus and Moldovo also expressed their support for the law.

In Berlin, President of the Federation of German-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Li Dequan rapped the Taiwan authorities for intensifying "Taiwan Independence" secessionist activities in recent years by means of "constitutional reform," attempting to make Taiwan secede from the motherland.

Such secessionist activities have posed a severe threat to China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he added.

A total of 23 overseas Chinese associations in France, including the Association for Promoting the Peaceful Reunification of China, on Monday issued a joint statement voicing their firm support for the law.

The statement said the law reflects the utmost sincerity of the Chinese people for peaceful unification and the overseas Chinese in France will do their utmost for achieving the goal, it said.

In Vienna, the Chinese federation in Austria said the Anti-Secession Law will help preserve peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and it is conducive to the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

Dr. Xie Zhisheng, a Chinese from Taiwan, stressed that no country would make concessions on the issue of territorial integrity when speaking at a seminar in the Austrian capital.

"While a handful of separatists in Taiwan attempt to play tricks and split the island from China, the law checks the conspiracy of the separatists and will surely receive support from most Taiwan compatriots," said Xie.

The Chinese living in Austria strongly support the Anti-Secession Law and will spare no effort to realize the reunification of China, said a statement issued at the seminar.

In Portugal's capital Lisbon, 13 associations voiced their support for the law, saying the law reflects the common aspirations of the Chinese, Taiwan compatriots included.

Overseas students and scholars in Rome also said historical facts and legal documents indicate that Taiwan has been an inalienable part of China and the Chinese people never tolerate outside interference in this issue.

Li Jing, chairman of the student union in Rome, said the enacting of the Anti-Secession Law is well-timed and the law reaffirms that Taiwan is part of China and the Taiwan issue is China's domestic affair.

In Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, the head of the association for promotion of peaceful reunification of China said the Anti-Secession Law was drafted in line with the Chinese Constitution and any separatist attempts to split Taiwan from China are doomed to failure.

In Johannesburg, South Africa, Andy W.P. Lee, vice chairman of the all-Africa association for promotion of peaceful reunification of China, said the law sends an unequivocal message to the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their activities.

Lee, from Taiwan, said that most of the Taiwan people living in South Africa favor peaceful reunification and that separatist acts of the very few are doomed to failure.

Overseas Chinese communities in Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Australia, Myanmar and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and across the African continent all voiced their support for the Anti-Secession law.

"We firmly support the anti-secession law and will try our best to cooperate with China's mainland to actively promote the development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful reunification of China," said a joint statement issued in Argentina by 19 overseas Chinese associations, led by the Council for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China in Argentina.

The law is a necessary and timely measure adopted by the National People's Congress at a time when the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces become more rampant in alienating the island from China, the statement said.

A statement issued by overseas Chinese groups in Colombia pointed out that the law is the most authoritative one for safeguarding China's peace and stability and the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Leaders of the Chinese community in Australia's largest city of Sydney also voiced their firm support for the law.

Frank Chou, honorable chairman of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, said the new law will be conducive to stabilizing the tense situation across the Taiwan Strait and curbing the "Taiwan independence" secessionist force.

He described the law as one that conforms to the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and called upon the Taiwan authorities to give up the attempt at "Taiwan independence" and work for the reunification of the motherland.

Singapore and Chinese scholars, academicians, entrepreneurs and students on Tuesday expressed their firm support for the law.

Speaking at a symposium on the law held in Singapore, a dozen Chinese participants agreed that the formulation and adoption of the law are both necessary and timely.

Embodying the common will of the Chinese people, the law represents a milestone in China's peaceful reunification cause, they said, all wishing that China will achieve early peaceful reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2005)