Li Weiyi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, invites a question from reporters at a press conference in this January 24, 2006 photo. Li said February 8 that Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian is a troublemaker and saboteur of cross-Straits ties and Asia-Pacific peace and stability. (newsphoto)

A State Council official says the recent remarks about "Taiwan independence" by Taiwan's 'leader' and his stubborn adherence to secessionist stance prove again that he is the troublemaker and saboteur of the cross-Straits relations, and peace and stability of the Asian Pacific region.

Li Weiyi, the spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council made the remarks here Wednesday at a regularly scheduled news conference.

Over the last year thanks to joint efforts of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the cross-straits relations have developed toward stability and peace, Li said, adding the compatriots on the two sides were encouraged by the good momentum, which has also gratified the international community.

"However, the Taiwan leader ran counter to this momentum," Li stressed, saying "after his provocative New Year speech, the leader made "Taiwan Independence" remarks again while compatriots on the two sides were celebrating the Spring Festival.

Chen Shui-bian proposed on Jan. 29 in his Lunar New Year speech the termination of the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and the "National Unification Guidelines," formulation of a "new constitution" and "the application for United Nations membership under the name of Taiwan." In this speech, he also broke his former promises and challenged the one-China principle which is commonly abided by the international community

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

Chen advocated to speed up his so-called "constitutional reform", in an attempt to realize "Taiwan's de jure independence," Li said.

"Our stance on developing cross-Straits relations is consistent, firm and clear," Li stressed, adding "we will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle, never give up efforts of peaceful reunification, nor change the principle of pinning hope on the Taiwan people and never compromise on opposition to secessionist activities."

"Taiwan compatriots are our brothers and sisters and we will not change our solemn promise made to them because of the deliberate provocation made by the Taiwan authority leader," Li said.

"We will try our utmost efforts to do every thing which is conducive to the interests of Taiwan compatriots, cross-Straits exchanges, peace across the Taiwan Straits, and peaceful reunification of the motherland," Li said.

"We hope that Taiwan compatriots can make joint efforts with us to propel peaceful and smooth development of cross-Straits relations," he said.

Editor: Yan