Taiwan 'constitution' blasted

A mainland spokesman on Wednesday strongly condemned "Taiwan independence" separatist forces who proposed drafting a new "constitution" for the island.

"Taiwan is not an independent sovereign entity but part of China," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, adding that the mainland will not remain silent.

"To promote 'Taiwan independence' in the name of making a new 'constitution' will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation and seriously undermine stability across the Taiwan Straits," he said.

"'Taiwan independence' is the greatest scourge to the fundamental interests of Taiwan residents and the greatest threat to peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," he added.

On Jan 23, the island's "former executive head" Lai Ching-te said it's time that Taiwan draft a new "constitution" to solidify "national unity" and address issues arising from "national identity".

Lai made the remark at the opening of the Taiwan Constitution Foundation set up by prominent "Taiwanese independence" supporter Koo Kwang-ming.

In response, Cho Jung-tai, the new chairman of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said the DPP will not be absent in the move to push forward "Taiwan independence".

Cho assumed the post earlier this month after party head Tsai Ing-wen resigned following the DPP's disappointing performance in local elections in November.

Ma said Lai's remark shows "that the DPP is a saboteur of cross-Straits relations and a troublemaker not interested in working for peace and stability across the Straits."

"If they dare to promote various separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence', the mainland will never sit idle," he added.

Aside from mayoral elections in November, a "referendum" was held on changing the name under which Taiwan athletes will compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from "Chinese Taipei" to "Taiwan". The motion failed.

Zhang Wensheng, a professor of Taiwan politics at Xiamen University, Fujian province, said it showed that Taiwan residents do not support the DPP's "Taiwan independence" policy, and the party was taught a lesson by the election results.

Ma also spoke on the Taiwan administration's intention to publish a list of mainland technology companies that it considers possible threats, and to ban relevant products.

A ban would be harmful to both sides of the Taiwan Straits, Ma said.

"With the increasingly close cross-Straits economic and trade exchanges, the move would not only harm the interests of mainland enterprises, but also consumers and many manufacturers in the supply chain in Taiwan, thus affecting Taiwan's own economic development," Ma said.

"Such a practice of creating division and harming the rights and interests of the people of Taiwan is unpopular. We firmly oppose such practices by the DPP administration that undermine normal cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation."