Obstructers of cross-Straits relations doomed to fail
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-05 15:02

Anybody who acts against people's wishes for peaceful and stable relations across the Taiwan Straits is bound to meet failure, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing on Sunday.

Delegates listen to the government work report delivered by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening meeting National People's Congress in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 5, 2006. The annual gathering China's lawmakers started Sunday morning and will close on March 14, 2006. [Xinhua]

"Everyone wants cross-Straits relations to be peaceful and stable and develop to the mutual benefit of both sides," said Premier Wen in his n his government work report delivered at the annual session of the National People's Congress.

"Anyone who tries to reverse this major trend will most certainly fail," said Wen.

Relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, estranged because of a civil war in the late 1940s, showed signs of improvement last year thanks to efforts of people on both sides.

The independence-leaning Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, however, announced on February 27 a decision to stop the function of the " National Unification Council" and its guidelines, seen as a dangerous move toward "Taiwan independence" and a grave threat to peace across the Taiwan Straits.

The world public opinion quickly points out that Chen has done this to save his poor political record and unpopularity, attempting to gain support in a conflict with the mainland. Chen is now under denouncement in and outside Taiwan for his repeated moves to make trouble in the cross-Straits relations.

The premier reiterated the mainland's adherence to the basic principles of "peaceful reunification", "one country, two systems" and an eight-point proposal for developing cross-Straits relations and promoting China's peaceful reunification under the present circumstances.

The mainland will unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and never give up its efforts to achieve peaceful reunification and never change the principle of placing hopes on the people of Taiwan, said Wen.

Meanwhile, the mainland will uncompromisingly oppose secessionist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence", he said.

"We will continue working with Taiwan compatriots to facilitate visits by individuals, promote economic, scientific, technological, and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and establish peaceful and stable cross-Straits relations," said Wen.

He said the mainland will strive to resume dialogue and negotiation between the two sides under the one-China principle and promote resumption of the "three links" of mail, trade and transport on a comprehensive, direct and two-way basis.

"We will support economic development on the west shore of the Taiwan Straits in Fujian and in other areas where Taiwan investment is concentrated, protect the legitimate rights and interests of our Taiwan compatriots in accordance with the law, and serve them wholeheartedly," said Wen.

"The report shows that the Central Government has full confidence in the development of cross-Straits relations in the sound direction and is resolved to rally power to check "Taiwan independence," said Zhang Yongjun, a deputy of NPC's Taiwan delegation.

"It also shows the goodwill of the mainland toward Taiwan compatriots and sincere care for their well-being," he said.

Zhang said it's the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Straits to seek peace, stability and development.

"A peaceful reunification that benefits both side of the Taiwan Straits is a general trend of the times," he said.

A total of 68,095 projects funded by business people from Taiwan had been approved on the mainland by the end of 2005, with a contractual investment of 89.7 billion U.S. dollars from Taiwan and 41.76 billion dollars actually used.

Indirect cross-Straits trade volume had hit 495.81 billion dollars, including 81.73 billion dollars of mainland exports to Taiwan and 414.08 billion dollars of Taiwan exports to the mainland, resulting in an aggregate trade surplus of 332.35 billion dollars for Taiwan.

The mainland is Taiwan's No. 1 export market and largest trade surplus source, while Taiwan is mainland's second largest import market.

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