A Chinese government spokesman said Wednesday that the assertion by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian that he would establish a so-called framework for cross-Straits peace and stability was deceitful.

"On the one hand, Chen Shui-bian is bent on having his own way and pursuing a referendum that would provoke confrontation between peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, sabotage cross-Straits relations and endanger peace in the Taiwan Straits," Zhang Mingqing, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a news conference in Beijing.

"On the other hand, he has professed he would set up a so-called framework for cross-Straits peace and stability. We think Chen Shui-bian's words are deceitful," Zhang said.

Zhang said that in the more than three years since he took office, Chen Shui-bian had refused to accept the "one-China" principle.

Zhang called on compatriots in Taiwan and the international community to see through the deceit of Chen Shui-bian and the danger of activities promoting "Taiwan independence".

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2004)