A Chinese mainland official on Friday lashed out at Taiwan
leader Chen Shui-bian's latest plan for so-called "constitutional
reform" and warned that the move would cause instability in the
region.
In a reported interview, Chen said he would propose a "freezing"
of Taiwan's existing "constitution" and apply a new one that suited
Taiwan's current situation.
"It is another dangerous move of Chen to serve his own
interests. His words will stir up opposition on the island and
cause trouble on developing the relationship across the Taiwan
Strait," said a spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's
State Council.
"If Chen is allowed to audaciously push forward the reform, it
will threaten China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the
development of cross-Strait relations, and the peace and stability
of the Strait or even the Asia-Pacific region at large," the
spokesman said.
The Chinese government firmly opposes Chen's plot to achieve
Taiwan's "de jure independence" through "constitutional reform", he
said.
On Sept. 24, Chen raised the issue of "constitutional reform",
which involved the possibility of changing the "territorial
definitions" of Taiwan. Mainland officials have criticized the plan
from the outset.
(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2006)