The draft anti-secession law is in the fundamental interests of
the Taiwan compatriots as it can prevent the "Taiwan independence"
forces from leading Taiwan to a disastrous end, a non-governmental
organization representing Taiwanese living on the mainland said in
Beijing Monday.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Yang Guoqing, president
of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots (ACFTC), said:
"Fundamentally speaking, the draft law is intended to protect the
direct and basic interests of the Taiwan compatriots, and will
provide a legal guarantee for the Taiwan compatriots' aspirations
for peace, stability and development."
China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC),
announced last month its decision to enact a law against secession.
The draft version of the law will be submitted to an annual full
session of the NPC, scheduled for next March, for deliberation and
adoption.
"The NPC's legislative move has fully demonstrated the firm
resolution of the Chinese people and government to safeguard
national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and therefore has
won the heartfelt support of the general public, including the
ACFTC," said Yang.
Yang pointed out that since the early 1990s, the "Taiwan
independence" forces had continuously stepped up their efforts to
legalize the concept of an "independent Taiwan" and to split the
island province from China.
"The 'Taiwan independence' forces and their secessionist
activities have seriously undermined the one-China principle,
sabotaged the prospects for a peaceful reunification of the
motherland, and harmed the fundamental interests of the Chinese
nation, thus constituting a serious provocation on China's national
sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the biggest threat
to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region," he said.
The activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces have stirred
up the strong indignation of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, who
have repeatedly demanded that resolute and effective measures,
including necessary legal means, be taken to crack down on any
"Taiwan independence" attempts, said Yang.
"There are only a few people in Taiwan who will obstinately
stick to their 'Taiwan independence' stand," said Yang. "The
majority of the Taiwan compatriots are against 'Taiwan
independence' and are worried that the secessionists might create
incidents with disastrous consequences."
"We believe that the broad masses of the Taiwan compatriots are
an important force in curbing 'Taiwan independence' and fighting
secession," he added.
He finally expressed the hope that people on both sides of the
straits would join hands to usher in "a bright tomorrow" for the
cross-straits relations and promote the prospects of peaceful
reunification.
(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2005)