A senior Chinese official on Taiwan affairs warned on January 28 that if Lee Teng-hui and his supporters continue to advocate "Taiwan Independence" and reject the one China principle, the mainland will take resolute measures.

China expects to resume negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits on the basis of the one China principle and fulfill the plan for Wang Daohan, president of the Association forRelations Across the Taiwan Straits to visit Taiwan, said Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Chen, who is also director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a forum held in Beijing Friday to mark the fifth anniversary of President Jiang Zemin's eight-point proposition on reunification of the motherland.

Jiang's 1995 speech on the Taiwan issue expounded the essence of Deng Xiaoping's concept of "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems," Chen said. On that occasion, Jiang put forward the eight-point proposition for advancing cross-straits relations and promoting peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage.

"Reviewing the cross-straits development and our struggle against separatist forces in Taiwan over the past five years, we came to know more clearly that Jiang's speech is a programmatic document on solving the Taiwan issue and realizing peaceful reunification of the motherland," said Chen.

"We will unswervingly adhere to the one China principle, which serves as the basis and prerequisite for China's peaceful reunification. It ensures that peaceful and stable relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are maintained."

It is worth noting that Lee Teng-hui and some separatists are trying to divide Taiwan from the motherland by attempting to tamper with its "constitution and laws", Chen said.

If separatist forces in Taiwan continue to advocate such policies, they will make it impossible to fulfill the goal of peaceful reunification. The mainland is keeping a close eye on separatist activities in Taiwan, Chen said.

The only way to realizing peaceful reunification is to carry out negotiations between both sides of the Taiwan Straits on the basis of the one China principle. The mainland has made unremitting efforts in promoting cross-straits dialogue. But Lee Teng-hui's "two states" statement has seriously undermined cross-straits dialogue and postponed the scheduled visit to Taiwan by Wang Daohan.

Hong Kong and Macao have returned to the motherland, marking a significant progress in the course of China's peaceful reunification.

Resolving the Taiwan issue accords with the will of the people and the general trend of events, thus it can not been delayed indefinitely, Chen said.

"We will continue to implement the basic policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposition of Jiang Zemin, and create favorable conditions for resolving the Taiwan issue as early as possible," he said.

Chen also extended New Year's greetings to Taiwan compatriots on behalf of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on the eve of Spring Festival.