Beijing on Wednesday condemned Taiwanese leader Chen Shui-bian's attempt of pushing for a "referendum" on the island on how to apply to join the United Nations.

Yang Yi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, listens to a question during a press conference in Beijing, June 13, 2007. [Chinataiwan.org]

The purpose of Chen's move is to deny the fact that Taiwan and the mainland are both part of China, and to realize the "de jure independence" of Taiwan, said Yang Yi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in Beijing.

The Taiwan authority made the disturbance just before the Taiwan leader election, and claimed to combine the "referendum" with the election, just to cheat Taiwan people and to get more votes, said Yang.

Yang added that the separatist's recent move "will have a strong impact on cross-Straits relations, seriously harm the basic interests of people on both sides, and will endanger peace and stability of the Straits and the Asia-pacific region".

"We hope Taiwan compatriots and the international community see clearly Chen Shui-bian's evil intentions in promoting the 'referendum' and the serious harm caused by it," said Yang, adding the mainland side has the necessary preparations to firmly deter any hazadous separatist activity.

Under the "One China" policy, nations cannot have official relations with both Beijing and Taipei.

"The mainland will never allow anyone using any methods to separate Taiwan from China," he said.