CPPCC Members Vow to Battle Separatists

Members of China's top advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said yesterday that the government should guard against "Taiwanese independence" and promote reunification of the motherland, emphasizing that these are the aspirations of all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan.

Addressing the third plenary meeting of the on-going CPPCC National Committee session, Li Ganliu, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, said an increasing number of people in Taiwan are complaining about the policy Taiwan's new leaders have adopted with regard to the mainland.

According to Li, stability in and development of cross-Straits relations are the common wish of the people in Taiwan.

Li urged the leaders of Taiwan to respect the will of the people, acknowledge history, accept the one-China principle and reopen political dialogue with the mainland.

Lin Haidong, a CPPCC member of Taiwanese origin, said a handful of separatists in Taiwan are carrying out a number of disruptive activities in the cultural and educational realms.

Lin called for vigilance and firm opposition to such activities.

(Xinhua 03/10/2001)