Overseas Chinese the world over continued Tuesday to voice their firm support for a statement issued late Sunday by the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on current relations across the Taiwan Straits.

The New Zealand Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China said in a statement that Chen Shui-bian has remained the biggest obstacle to improving cross-Straits relations in the past four years because he refused to acknowledge the one-China principle and persisted in his separatist stance of Taiwan independence.

It is an indisputable fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and this has been recognized by the international community, the council said, adding that governments and organizations of any countries should not underestimate the determination and capabilities of China to fulfill its reunification cause.

At a seminar held in Rome by overseas Chinese in Italy, participants said those continuing their advocacy of Taiwan independence are playing with fire and will ultimately meet their destruction.

In Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, participants at the seminar held by Chinese living in Argentina said overseas Chinese resolutely support the Chinese government's one-China stance and all the overseas Chinese bear the responsibility for maintaining China's unity.

Attending a seminar in Mozambique on cross-Straits relations, the participating Chinese said any attempt to split China is destined to fail.

In a declaration issued Monday, the Canadian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China said the seven points in the statement on improving cross-Straits relations fully tally with the actual situation and conform to the aspiration and interests of the Taiwanese people.

Acknowledging that there is only one China is what the Taiwan authorities have to do if they really take into account the interests of the Taiwanese people.

Chinese communities in the United States, Britain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, the Philippines and Bangladesh have also issued statements voicing support for the seven points in the statement on improving cross-Straits relations and urging Chen Shui-bian and his followers to abandon the stance of "Taiwan independence" and return to the one-China principle.