A Chinese mainland official yesterday slammed a recent "constitution" draft proposed by Taiwan secessionists, aimed at pushing towards Taiwan "independence".

"The so-called draft of the 'second republic constitution' caters to Chen Shui-bian's scheme of 'de jure Taiwan independence' and overtly writes in the secessionist assertion of 'one country on each side'," Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a regular press conference yesterday.

Yang said the draft, which denies the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, is aimed at splitting China and the Chinese nation.

Taiwan University Professor Chen Ming-tong and other scholars publicized a proposed draft of the "second republic constitution" on March 18.

The draft puts the People's Republic of China alongside the "Republic of China". It also advocates determining cross-Straits political relations through a "referendum".

Yang said the proposed draft has been widely criticized within Taiwan for attempting to deceive the Taiwan people and the international community.

Mainland scholars have said that the "second republic constitution" is one of the approaches to push 'Taiwan independence' through constitutional reform.

"We are closely monitoring the situation," Yang said. "We will never allow the Taiwan secessionist forces to separate Taiwan from China in any name and by any means".

Asked to comment on Chen Shui-bian's recent remarks that Taiwan, the Unites States and the Chinese mainland were all responsible for peace and stability across the straits, Yang said the responsibility lay with "compatriots across the straits".

(China Daily March 29, 2007)