Chen said at a gathering on Sunday that he wanted independence, a new constitution, development, and new names for local firms that use the word "China" in their title.

"Such aggressive, crass and volatile political claims" would definitely threaten the political and economic status across the Taiwan Strait and inside Taiwan, the Taiwan Commercial Times said in an editorial on Tuesday, adding the remarks ran contrary to most Taiwan people's expectations.

The Taiwan-based China Times described Chen's "four wants" policy as verbal games that had no real effect except to send the Taiwan stock market tumbling.

Chen knew clearly that independence, a new constitution and new company names were impossible tasks, said Professor Shao Zonghai, of the Taiwan-based Chinese Culture University, and the reason he repeatedly said so was to sever ties between Taiwan and the mainland in the public's minds.