A Taiwan affairs official on the mainland condemned on Tuesday the efforts of the island's leader Chen Shui-bian to push for independence through "constitutional reforms".

"Chen has broken his promise and has persisted with his moves for independence. We strongly oppose Chen's efforts to rock the stability across the Taiwan Strait," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council, at a press conference.

"The mainland will keep a close watch over developments on the other side of the Strait," Li said.

Li said Chen's latest moves had contradicted his "Four Noes" pledge he made upon taking office.

The "Four Noes" comprise no declaration of Taiwan independence, no incorporation of the "two states" remarks into the constitution, no change of the province's name and no referendum on "Taiwan Independence".

Li said the mainland's policy towards Taiwan is firm and it will exert maximum efforts to ensure peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"However, we will never tolerate anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from the motherland by any means," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2006)