A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday warned Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian that he must shoulder "all serious consequences" if he recklessly takes dangerous moves towards "Taiwan independence".

"If Chen Shui-bian obstinately and recklessly takes dangerous moves irrespective of warnings and denouncement of the international community, he must shoulder "all serious consequences" arising from this," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at Wednesday's regular press conference.

Li called Chen "an out and out schemer" and "a destroyer" who does not hesitate to ruin peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in the Asia-Pacific region

He said Chen nakedly launched provocations to seek "Taiwan independence" prior to the Taiwan leader election to seek gains for himself and his own party, but totally irrespective of interests of the 23 million Taiwan compatriots.

Taiwan authorities sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in July, raising an application to join the United Nations in the name of "Taiwan." Meanwhile, Chen Shui-bian has been pushing for a plan to hold a "referendum" inside Taiwan on its entry to the United Nations.

"There is only one China in the world and both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland belong to one China. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of China brook no split," he said.

This fact cannot be altered no matter what "independence" speeches Chen Shui-bian trumpets, said Li.

He said a national traitor who plots to split the country cannot escape punishment in history.

In a recent interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte expressed opposition to Taiwan authorities' attempt to push for a plan of referendum on the island's entry into the United Nations in the name of "Taiwan".

Negroponte said the U.S sees the idea of referendum as "a mistake" and "a step towards a declaration of independence of Taiwan, towards an alteration of the status quo."

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)