Chinese mainland is following closely the independence activities of Taiwan authority leader and will take measures to cope with the possible complicated situation, an official said on Friday.

"We are following closely the development of the affairs, and are ready to deal with any possible complex situation at any time," said Li Weiyi, the spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a regularly scheduled news conference.

He referred to Taiwan authority leader Chen Shui-bian who has made a series of "Taiwan independence" remarks since the traditional Spring Festival, or the Chinese lunar New Year, such as those about abolishing the "National Unification Council" and the "National Unification Guidelines".

In his interview with Xinhua, Chen Yunlin, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that the remarks of Chen Shui-bian are a risky sign of escalation of Taiwan separatists' activities.

The cross-Straits relations would be undermined seriously and the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots are bound to be impaired eventually, if Chen Shui-bian clings obstinately to his course, the director said.

"We will do our best with our utmost sincerity to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits regions. At the same time, we are in resolute opposition to Taiwan separatists' activities of any form," said Chen.

In reply to a rumor that Taiwan authority has sent a secret envoy to the mainland to communicate on the issue of doing away with "National Unification Council" and the "National Unification Guidelines", Li said "We definitely have no information about the so-called secret envoy."

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2006)