A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office, under the Chinese State Council, denounced Wednesday Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan in response to his recent remarks about "Taiwan independence", including his allegation "one country on each side".

Proceeding only from the electoral standing of himself and his party, Chen Shui-bian had constantly made speeches in recent days rejecting the "one-China" principle, and deliberately heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait, which was seriously immoral and extremely dangerous, the spokesman said.

"We respect the aspiration of Taiwan compatriots to be masters of their own destiny," the spokesman noted, "but are in firm opposition to the any remarks of Taiwan authorities aimed to challenge the 'one-China' principle."

The spokesman went on to say that separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" had become the biggest scourge affecting social stability and economic growth in Taiwan and malignant tumor detrimental to the steady development of cross-strait relations.

Safeguarding the unity of China comply with the fundamental interests of the people across the Taiwan Strait, and anyone going in for seeking "Taiwan independence" would never succeed, the spokesman stressed.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2003)