A spokesman from the Taiwan Affairs Offices of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council has responded to the so-called "national development conference" held by the Taiwan authorities, accusing them of going too far down the path of separatism.

The spokesman said the Taiwan authorities recently held the conference, during which they defined the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits as "two equal political entities," and said nothing about "one China" and the reunification. This signals that the Taiwan authorities are further deviating from the "one China" principle and refusing the reunification.

The spokesman noted that separatist forces on the Taiwan Island tried to deny the fact that the Taiwan is a province of China in the name of "constitutional reform," in a move to further cut off contact between Taiwan and its motherland. This move will surely deteriorate the cross-straits relations, and it has received strong opposition from the compatriots on both sides of the straits as well as in Hong Kong and Macao.

It is well-known that there's only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China, the spokesman said. Though the two sides are temporarily separated from each other, the legal status of Taiwan as part of China and a province set out by China's administrative demarcation is the common understanding of all the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots. Any attempt to create "two Chinas", "one China, one Taiwan" or "Taiwan independence" will never be successful, he emphasized.

During the conference, some remarks were made in reference to the talks between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) in China's inland areas and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Taiwan, he noted. But no changes were made to the stance held by the Taiwan authorities to create "two Chinas" and hinder the cross-straits economic cooperation and the direct postal, commercial and transport links.

"We have always advocated that the two sides of the straits should hold political talks," he said, "Only if the Taiwan authorities stop their activities to create 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan', and wipe out all the man-made restrictions on cross-straits economic cooperation and the direct postal, commercial and transport links, can a proper atmosphere be developed for the resumption of the talks between the ARATS and SEF."

"We have repeatedly emphasized our willingness to exchange views with various parties and people in various circles of Taiwan, on the cross-straits relations and the national reunification, through various forms," he said.

The spokesman pointed out that China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong this year, which will inspire the Chinese people both at home and abroad.

After the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao and the successful implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle, to settle the Taiwan question and accomplish the ultimate reunification of the motherland will become more prominent issues, he said.

He noted China's reunification and rejuvenation are the common desire of all the Chinese, including the people in Taiwan, adding that the Taiwan authorities should not go against the historical trend and damage the basic interests of the Taiwan people.