'Referendum' attempt given stern warning
By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-06 07:22

Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday warned strongly against Taipei's attempt to unilaterally decide its future through the so-called "referendum" on the island's United Nations membership.

"Any issue that concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots," he said.

Wen's warning comes amid the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration's attempt to hold the "referendum" on joining the UN alongside the island's "presidential" elections on March 22.

The premier made the warning while delivering his government work report at the opening meeting of the annual full session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

He said the attempts of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, to deny the reality that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and to undermine peace in the Taiwan Straits, are doomed to fail.

"We firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities, and will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any guise or by any means," Wen said, winning applause from close to 3,000 national legislators and more than 2,000 political advisors in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The "referendum" on Taiwan's UN membership, which is believed to be a step to move the island toward de jure independence, has met with strong opposition from Beijing and Washington.

President Hu Jintao also warned on Tuesday that secessionist activities in Taiwan have become the greatest menace to national and sovereign integrity.

Despite his warning against the DPP's intensified push for formal "independence," Wen demonstrated Beijing's goodwill toward Taiwan with a vow to promote cross-Straits peace and take more measures to benefit people on the island.

He pledged that the mainland will pursue the goal of promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, encourage compatriots on both sides to increase contacts and common understanding, actively promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges, and work for the resumption of direct links of mail, transport and trade.

"We will implement and improve the policies and measures designed to benefit our compatriots in Taiwan and support economic development on the west coast of the Straits in Fujian province and in other areas where Taiwan investment is concentrated," he said.

The premier said the mainland will work for the early resumption of cross-Straits negotiations on the basis of the one-China principle to address major issues of concern to compatriots on both sides.

Chen Zhengtong, an NPC deputy, spoke highly of Wen's report yesterday.

"In my view, it will dispel misunderstanding and enhance mutual trust if the mainland and Taiwan can further promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges," Chen, of the Fujian Provincial Research Institute of Culture and History, said.

Lin Shengzhong, a member of the 11th National Committee of CPPCC, echoed Chen's view.

"Only by demonstrating more goodwill and flexibility toward the island can we unite most of Taiwan residents in curbing 'pro-independence forces' to promote final reunification across the Straits," Lin, of Taiwan origin, said.

Xinhua contributed to the story

(China Daily 03/06/2008 page5)