BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- "Taiwan independence" will not win the support of Taiwan people and is doomed to be opposed by people from across the strait, said a mainland spokesman on Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a question about the pulling down of Dr. Sun Yat-sen's statue in Tainan City by supporters of Taiwan independence.

Dr. Sun is the great forerunner of China's democratic revolution and is respected by people from both sides, Ma said.

Organizations and people from the island expressed their indignation and denounced the pulling down of Dr. Sun's statue, Ma added.