Overseas Chinese made statements or speeches on Tuesday denouncing Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's scrapping of the "National Unification Council" (NUC).

They pointed out that Chen's decision to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" and the application of the "National Unification Guidelines" ran counter to the tide of history and impaired the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots.

The Europe Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said in a statement that Chen's move posed a serious threat to the one-China principle widely obeyed by the international community.

It has not only destroyed the good momentum of the peaceful and stable development of cross-strait relations since last year but also heavily impaired the fundamental interests of the Taiwan compatriots, the group said.

The European Federation of Chinese Organizations said that Chen Shui-bian was putting the Taiwan people's interests and cross-strait peace in jeopardy by adopting a more extreme secessionist path to "Taiwan independence." His move would surely spark a crisis in the Taiwan Straits and ruin peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Greece Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen had thoroughly abandoned his former promises on cross-strait relations and taken a dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence."

The group termed Chen's decision as a bold provocative act.

The France Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen's deeds had incurred a chorus of condemnation from all Chinese, including the Taiwan compatriots, and encountered blasts from international opinion, adding his farce would absolutely end in failure.

The Japan Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said Chen had attempted to get rid of his own impasse at the expense of the Taiwan people's bliss but he would find himself in greater difficulty.

The Cote d'Ivoire Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said no matter how Chen racked his brains in pushing "Taiwan independence," he would never change the fact that Taiwan had been part of Chinese territory since ancient times, nor the fact that people of both sides of the Taiwan Straits are descendants of the same ancestors.

It added that Chen's road toward "Taiwan independence" would lead to nowhere.

The Romania Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China thought Chen wanted to make use of his bold move to distract the Taiwan public from his government's political malpractice and the island's economic dilemma.

The Mozambique Association for Promoting Peaceful Reunification of China said the Taiwan leader who continued on his wrong path and ran against historical tide would only be spurned by the people and history.

Prominent Chinese Americans in the Washington area held a press conference on Tuesday to denounce Chen Shui-bian's latest move aimed at splitting Taiwan from China.

Chen's act had fully exposed his attempt at "Taiwan independence" and showed that he has moved further on his road to seek "Taiwan independence".

Dr. Huiqiu Wu, president of the Washington-based National Association for China's Peaceful Unification said at the conference.

Overseas Chinese in Spain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Cyprus and Cambodia also held seminars or made speeches to condemn Chen's decision.

The "NUC" was set up in 1990 by the Taiwan authorities headed by Lee Teng-hui. A total of 14 meetings were held after its establishment. However, no "NUC" meeting has been held since Chen Shui-bian became Taiwan leader.

The "National Unification Guidelines" were issued in 1991, saying both the mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and the promotion of the state's reunification should be the common task of all Chinese.

The guidelines also outlined a three-phase goal for the realization of China's reunification.

Source: Xinhua