Major Hong Kong newspapers carried on editorials on Monday to criticize the secession activities of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian who attempts to abolish the "National Unification Council (NUC)" and the 'National Unification Guidelines."

The newspapers also carried on comments of the director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council in an article criticizing Chen's recent remarks on abolishing the "NUC" and the "National Unification Guidelines".

The Chinese language Takungpao issued an editorial titled "Chen 's 'NUC'-Abolishing Attempts to Destroy Peaceful cross-Straits Situation", which said the developments these days indicate that Chen has decided to go his own way and is ready to "run into a blank wall".

The article said though the public opinion and most of political parties and political figures are opposing Chen's attempts, Chen neglects all the opposition opinions.

The newspapers said, in the past six years, Chen has been constantly launching "Taiwan Independence" moves. He not only wants to abolish the "NUC", but also tried to break his promise made on May 20, 2000. All these facts proved that Chen is totally a lunatic gambler.

On May 20, 2000, Chen promised not to declare "Taiwan Independence", not to incorporate the "two states" idea into the "constitution," not to change the so-called "country's name," not to hold a "referendum" on "Taiwan independence," neither abolish the "NUC" and "National Unification Guidelines."

Wen Wei Po warned Chen in its editorial that he will get burnt if he plays with fire.

The newspaper said Chen's recent moves proved that he is the biggest troublemaker to cross-Straits relations, to Taiwan and to the entire Asia Pacific Region, adding that his crazy challenging acts will surely endanger the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, his acts will be strongly opposed by all Chinese in the world and he will doom to failure.

The Chinese language daily said Chen's dangerous signal of " abolishing the 'NUC' is the rapid escalation of the secession activities, indicating that "Taiwan independence" secession activities are the biggest source of turmoil that threatens the cross-Straits relations.

The editorial urged Chen "to wake up to and avoid danger at the last moment".

Hong Kong Commercial Daily's editorial, titled "Chen's extravagant gambling is doom to failure", said Chen's advocating of the abolishing of the "NUC" is a gamble game which is betting on the happiness, welfare and future of Taiwan compatriots and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

The article said Chen's move is against the will of Taiwan compatriots and it could lead to nowhere but failure.

Hong Kong Economic Times said in its editorial that Chen's hastened step towards "Taiwan independence" is an extravagant betting on peace.

The editorial said the bribe scandal and incapable governance of Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will not enable the party to succeed in the coming elections, so he tried to transfer the public attention in the political field into other topics. If these attempts succeed this time, he would do more to promote his "Taiwan independence" ideas.

Source: Xinhua