Overseas Chinese have held symposiums or issued statements in the past few days denouncing Chen Shui-bian's move to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" (NUC) and the application of the "National Unification Guidelines."

In the United States, the Global League for Reunification of China and the U.S.-Shanghai Association for Economic, Scientific and Technological Exchanges issued a joint statement recently, condemning the move as a provocation aimed at undermining peace across the Taiwan Straits.

Overseas Chinese residing in Egypt held a meeting to voice strong opposition to Chen Shui-bian's attempts to split Taiwan from China.

They denounced the Taiwan leader for inflicting immediate damage on the interests of the Taiwan people and pointed out that Chen Shui-bian is the trouble maker to cross-Straits peace and is the biggest obstacle to peaceful reunification between the two sides across the Straits.

In South Africa, representatives from different overseas Chinese communities also held a symposium condemning Chen's provocative words and actions, which they said have undermined peace across the Taiwan Straits.

The symposium said Chen's move has not only increased tensions in cross-straits relations but also goes against the mainstream opinions of the Taiwan people who want peace, stability and development.

A statement issued by the association of Overseas Chinese entrepreneurs in Portugal said Chen's decision undermined the foundation of the peaceful and stable development of the cross-Straits relations and goes against the wishes of all the Chinese people, including Taiwanese compatriots.

At a symposium held in Norway, representatives of local overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, students and media groups said Chen Shui-bian, ignoring strong opposition from the international community and the people across the Straits, clings to his secessionist actions, which have gravely violated the One-China Principle and undermined peace and stability across the Straits. All the Chinese people, Taiwan compatriots included, and overseas Chinese will never tolerate these actions.

An overseas Chinese organization in Venezuela issued a statement condemning Chen for reneging on his promise of "five no's" and conducting activities aimed at promoting "Taiwan independence."

The statement noted that overseas Chinese in Venezuela are determined to join Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese in other parts of the world in firmly opposing and stopping Chen's actions and helping promote the reunification of the motherland.

Running against the trend of history, Chen is recklessly and desperately pushing forward his secessionist plan regardless of the welfare of the people in Taiwan, the overseas Chinese newspaper Weihua Bao said in its editorial.

The newspaper warned of the danger of Chen's decision and called on all overseas Chinese to stand up against his attempt to split Taiwan from China under any name and in any form.

Over the past few days, media in many countries, including the Lianhe Zaobao newspaper in Singapore and the L'essor daily in Mali, have carried articles condemning Chen for his decision to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" and the application of the council's guidelines.

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 Chinese 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