Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office Photo: cnsphoto

Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Friday warned Taiwan's  separatists to “step back from the brink” as some rebel groups on the island plan for "constitutional amendment" and “rectification of name” with clearly-defined separatism goals.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the office, said in a statement that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Taiwan is actively encouraging these foreign forces to damage the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits, and generate tension between the island and mainland; in fact, some separatist groups are using this as an opportunity to push a series of separatist-related activities.

In doing this, it would “move the cross-Straits relationship to the brink of danger, and push Taiwan's  compatriots to the firing line of disaster,” said Zhu.

Taiwan's  separatists and their activities are the biggest threat to the peace and stability of the Straits, and they are also the biggest obstacle for the peaceful development of any Mainland-Taiwan relationship, Zhu remarked, adding that their activities threaten the fundamental interests of the Chinese mainland, as well as those of their compatriots in Taiwan; therefore, their actions are doomed to fail. 

“We firmly warn these separatist forces to step back from the brink; however, if they challenge the law of China, they will and must be punished,” Zhu said.

Global Times