Today's People's Daily carries a signed article, further refuting Lee Teng-hui's splittist remarks.

The article by Yu Jia says that Lee Teng-hui's "two-state" remarks were not merely a whim or slip of the tongue but an elaborate and well prepared declaration of intent.

It is no surprise to Chinese people that Lee Teng-hui has metaphorically burned the bridges of the development of relations between both sides of Taiwan Straits, says the article.

In fact, during the 11 years since Lee Teng-hui assumed office, he took pains to cover up his attempt to separate Taiwan from China, although other people have seen through this mask.

Lee's separatist attempt is different from other elements of " Taiwan Independence" only in form and strategies. He claimed that he was opposed to "Taiwan Independence", even after he made the " two-state" remarks.

But people can find that Lee Teng-hui's words and deeds do not differ from the splittist concepts and opinions of other "Taiwan Independence" elements. Many of Lee Teng-hui's political views were borrowed from those elements of "Taiwan Independence", says the article.

Lee Teng-hui's remarks of "special state-to-state relations" is very close to the political views of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan.

After Lee's "two-state" remarks were made, he was widely condemned by people from both China and overseas and supported only by "Taiwan Independence" elements headed by the Democratic Progressive Party.

Lee attempts to impose his influence on the coming election in Taiwan next March and tries to maintain the splittist policy in Taiwan. He has mistakenly caused tension between the two sides of the Straits and instigated a mood supporting "Taiwan Independence" amongst certain factions.