"Taiwan independence" absolutely will not mean peace but a war between the two sides of the straits, and compatriots both in Taiwan and the mainland must make concerted efforts to fight against it, Qian said at a forum in Beijing.

Vice-Premier Qian Qichen on January 28 called on compatriots across the Taiwan Straits to unite and strive for peaceful reunification.

"Taiwan independence" absolutely will not mean peace but a war between the two sides of the straits, and compatriots both in Taiwan and the mainland must make concerted efforts to fight against it, Qian said at a forum in Beijing.

The forum was held to mark the fifth anniversary of the eight-point proposition made by President Jiang Zemin on China's reunification.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government will never make compromise on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Qian said, warning that separatists in Taiwan must not "play with fire."

"We'll continue to carry out the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposition put forward by President Jiang Zemin for an early reunification of the motherland, he said.

The vice-premier hailed Jiang's reunification statement as realizing Deng Xiaoping's principal concept of "peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems", saying that it is the guiding document and principle for resolving the Taiwan issue at the present stage.

He said the recent return of Macao to the motherland, following that of Hong Kong in 1997, is one great and firm step closer to the reunification of the motherland.

Over the past decade, the Chinese government has had to put up heated and repeated struggles against Taiwan's separatist force led by Lee Teng-hui, Qian said, adding that Lee has told the world his ultimate goal to split the motherland by advertising the "two-state" theory.

The vice-premier said China's anti-separatist campaign has won widespread support around the world. There is no country in the world that supports or chimes in with Lee's "two-state" remarks. Lee has failed to overturn the one China principle, but instead, has turned himself a "trouble maker" for the international community, said Qian.

The vice-premier stressed that to realize peaceful reunification, both sides of the Taiwan Straits must adhere to the one China principle and seek ways to solve the differences between them through equal consultations.

Policies dealing with the Taiwan issue will be more flexible than those for Hong Kong and Macao to fully meet the aspirations and demands of compatriots in Taiwan, said Qian, who is confident that the Taiwan compatriots will finally come to believe that reunification under the "one country, two systems" principle is the best way to safeguard their interests.

The vice-premier reiterated that the mainland will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges, and work for the establishment of direct links in trade, transportation and postal services between the two sides of the straits.

He emphasized that no matter what happens, the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan investors will be protected in the mainland.

The mainland is willing to see Taiwan join the World Trade Organization (WTO) as a separate customs territory following the mainland's entry, Qian said.

Cross-strait talks under the one China principle are a must to seek ways for the peaceful reunification, the vice-premier said. Topics of the talks can be the "three direct links," economic relations after the WTO entry of the two sides, the international space for economic, cultural and social activities of Taiwan that suits it, and the political status of the Taiwan authorities.

He reiterated that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, and all foreign countries should respect the feeling and will of the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots.

China firmly opposes any foreign force to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, or sell or transfer to Taiwan technologies related to the so-call theater missile defense system. China also strongly opposes the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act of the US Congress, the vice-premier.

Li Ruihuan, a member of the Standing Committee of Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was present at the forum. (Xinhua)