The Chinese government warned Taiwan authorities led by Chen Shui-bian to immediately stop separatist crimes through advocating a "referendum" and not to cheat and fool the Taiwanese people.

An official with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council sent the warnings Monday when commenting on Chen's separatist activity seeking "Taiwan independence" through a referendum on a new "constitution".

The official said Taiwan authorities, under the pretext of local people's interest, recently united all sorts of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and carried out "Taiwan independence" separatist activity.

They attempted to prepare a legal basis for future "referenda" on "Taiwan independence", which is a very dangerous separatist move, an overt challenge against the one China principle, damaging to mainland-Taiwan relations, a menace to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and Asia-Pacific area as well as a severe provocation to the 1.3 billion Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots, the official said.

Chen's activity, which has again and again abandoned his promise of no declaration of Taiwan independence, no incorporation of the "two states" remarks into its constitution, no change of the so-called country's name and no referendum on Taiwan independence during his tenure as leader, unveiled his true separatist image, the official said.

Chen fooled the Taiwanese compatriots and international opinion by saying that his separatist activity had nothing to do with his promise, but his fraud will not succeed, the official said.

The Chinese mainland respects Taiwan compatriots' wish to rule by themselves, but firmly opposes Chen's separatism through a referendum on "constitution" and "independence", the official said.

Chen's risky move, completely breaching Taiwan compatriots' fundamental interests, is dragging them into a dangerous chasm step by step, the official said.

There is only one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the inviolable territory of China, the official said, noting the Chinese people and government have a clear and decisive stance over safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Anyone attempting to separate Taiwan from China will receive severe punishment by the 1.3 billion Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots, the official said.

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