Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian announced in Taipei Monday afternoon a decision to stop the operation of the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and application of the "National Unification Guidelines".

Chen declared the decision soon after the so called "Meeting of National Security Council".

Taiwan's major parties, including Chinese Kuomintang, the People First Party and Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, major associations and other social circles had strongly opposed and criticized Chen's proposal before he took the action.

On Sunday, a senior official from the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council criticized Chen for escalating secessionist activities, which will inevitably result in a serious crisis in the Taiwan Straits and destroy peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The official pledged that the mainland will continue to, with utmost sincerity and biggest efforts, safeguard and promote peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits relations to strive for peaceful reunification.

"We'll never tolerate 'Taiwan independence' nor allow Taiwan secessionist activities to separate Taiwan from the motherland," the official said.

On May 20, 2000, Chen promised not to declare "Taiwan Independence," not to incorporate the "two states" idea into the "constitution," not to change the so-called "country's name," not to hold a "referendum" on "Taiwan Independence," and not to abolish the "NUC" and the "National Unification Guidelines."

The "NUC" was established in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities headed by Lee Teng-hui, and fourteen meetings had been held since its establishment. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.

The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991, saying both the mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and promoting the country's reunification should be the common task of all Chinese.

The guidelines also outlined a three-phase goal for the realization of China's reunification.

Editor: Yan