Li Weiyi (left), spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Song Dexing, director general of Department of Water Transportation, Ministry of Communications attend a press conference in Beijing, May 30, 2007. [Chinataiwan.org]

On Wednesday Beijing voiced concerns of Taiwan separatists who recently wrote a draft aimed to make the island a country, saying it was dangerous and deliberately provoking the Chinese mainland.

The so-called "resolution on making Taiwan a normal country" drafted by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is Taiwanese separatists' latest move in pursuing Taiwan's "De Jure Independence", said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council during a press conference.

Li said the resolution for Taiwan to seek "independence" and "constitution," is doomed to fail. He added that the mainland is willing to talk with the DPP as long as they abandon their independence platform and stop working on splitting the island from China.

He also lashed out at the possible referendum that Chen Shui-bian has been pushing for the island to join the United Nations under the name of Taiwan, saying the real aim of the referendum is to change the status of Taiwan and split Taiwan from China. Li reiterated China's persistent stance of "One China".

Commenting on former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, Li said the Chinese mainland is strongly opposed to anyone conducting separatist activities in countries which have diplomatic relations with China.

"We hope Japan will abide by the three political documents including the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, and fulfill its promise on the Taiwan issue through its actions, and will not provide a stage for Taiwan separatist activities," Li said.

Taiwanese media previously reported that Taiwan's "parliamentary speaker" Wang Jin-pyng hoped to visit the Chinese mainland. Li said he welcomes Taiwanese parties and representatives to come "at the right time and under the right title", with the premise of the "One-China Principle" achieved in 1992 between the two sides.

The spokesman also discussed the sale of Taiwanese fruits on the Chinese mainland. According to Li, more than 8,700 tons of Taiwanese fruits worth of US$9.95 million, were imported to the mainland from 2005 until April of this year. The tax exemption on 15 kinds of fruits meant 8.53 million yuan worth of savings for Taiwanese farmers.