Xinhua News Agency published a commentary Saturday urging vigilance against "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces creating new tension across Taiwan Straits.

The commentary says, "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) initiated a march in Taipei to protest against the Anti-Secession Law adopted by China's National People's Congress on March 14. DPP and the extreme "Taiwan independence" secessionists have been malevolently distorting the principles of the law to misguide the Taiwan people and instigate antagonism and create new tension across the Taiwan Straits.

It says, facts have shown again that "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces are the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

The law reflects the consistent stand of the motherland of exerting the utmost sincerity and efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. It also reflects the common will and firm determination of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, including people in Taiwan, to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and never tolerate "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, the commentary says.

The law has won widespread acknowledgment of the international community and sons and daughters of the Chinese nation both at home and abroad, it says.

Anybody who has carefully read the text of the law will see this is a law to oppose and check "Taiwan independence," a law of peaceful reunification, a law for promoting cross-Strait relations and a law to protect the interests of Taiwan compatriots, it adds.

The commentary says the non-peaceful means mentioned in the law is entirely targeted at "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and by no means at Taiwan compatriots. Further, it is a last resort when possibilities for peaceful reunification are completely exhausted. The DPP and "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces distorted and stigmatize the law totally out of ulterior motives.

It says that in the current circumstances, there are two possibilities for the development of cross-Strait relations: one is that with the joint efforts of compatriots on both sides, easing of cross-Strait relations will continue; the other is that cross-Strait situation becomes tense again due to the provocation of sabotage activities of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

The commentary says, "We noticed some political figures of Taiwan authorities openly instigated and directly participated in the so-called 'March 26 march'. We have a question to ask: in this crucial junction of cross-Strait relations, what will they do with the fundamental well-being of Taiwan compatriots and to where will lead the cross-Strait relations? Not long ago, they solemnly made 'pledges' and 'statements' on developing cross-Strait relations. Are these only empty words again?"

It won't do to back down. The consequence of promoting secession will not be good. The leading politicians of Taiwan authorities should ponder this.

Compatriots across the Taiwan Straits are of one family that is connected by blood and flesh. China is our common homeland. Our policy of pinning hope on Taiwan compatriots will never change, it says.

It conforms with the fundamental interests of compatriots on both sides to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and promoting common development and prosperity.

It says, "We are confident the Taiwan compatriots will ultimately see clearly the right and the wrong and refuse to be cheated and misguided by 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces. We are confident they will objectively and rationally take the principle of the Anti-Secession Law and work with compatriots on the motherland to oppose and check 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities and push cross-Strait relations towards peace and stability."

(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2005)