A commentator's article of Xinhua News Agency on August 25 lashes out at Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui, saying his "two states" statement has caused tension between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and attracted particular attention from the Asia-Pacific countries.

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have repeated their adherence to the one China policy, declaring they share the opinion that Lee's splittist remarks have seriously threatened the peace, stability, and development in the region, the article says.

It says Lee's "two states" statement fully demonstrates that he is a trouble-maker and an obstacle to safeguarding world peace.

The overwhelming majority of the sovereign states and the international community believe that there is only one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China's territory.

When the People's Republic of China was founded 50 years ago, even some forces hostile to China did not deny the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one country, and this truth cannot be changed by any anti-China forces and separatist activities, the article notes.

China is an important country in the Asia-Pacific region as well as a major force for protecting peace and promoting development in the region. The stability between both sides of the Straits and a good cross-Straits relation are closely connected to the overall situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Peaceful reunification of the two sides across the Taiwan Straits is the common goal of the whole Chinese nation. The Chinese Government has repeated that it is in the best interest of Chinese people, including Taiwanese compatriots, to settle the Taiwan issue according to the principle of peaceful reunification and "one China, two systems," the article says.

In order to ensure its territorial integrity and sovereignty, China does not rule out the use of military force to settle the problem, which is the right of any sovereign state, the article points out.

China's stand on the matter has won the respect of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the international community.

The article says that denying the one China principle and separating Taiwan from China would damage the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits as well as in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Chinese Government is determined and able to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the article stresses.

Hegemony recently has taken a new role on the world stage, and a new attitude of intervention has reared its head. But any force in the world would have to consider the cost and risk it would face should it interfere with the Taiwan issue, which is China's domestic business.

Some Asian countries are now seeing a glimmer of economic recovery after suffering a two-year financial crisis. Therefore they prefer a peaceful and stable Asia-Pacific environment which would hasten the economic recovery and sustainable development, according to the article.