Chen Shui-bian's Words Denounce

Overseas Chinese in Nigeria have condemned recent remarks by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on Taiwan independence.

At a forum sponsored by the West Africa Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, representatives of the overseas Chinese community and Chinese companies in Lagos said Chen's remarks revealed his stubborn secessionist stance.

Guo Kun, China's consul-general in Lagos, said Chen's secessionist policies were aimed at his personal gains.

"As a Taiwan leader, the highest interest should be the interests of Taiwan people. But what Chen Shui-bian has done since he took office shows he is not really putting Taiwan people's interests first, but his personal political gain."

Yang Daoguang, chairman of the West Africa Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, said Chen's remarks represented his policy in the last year of his tenure and he is now going farther down the road to seek Taiwan independence.

"The peaceful development of cross-Straits ties are the common wish shared by all Chinese people. It is also the common expectation of the international community. We overseas Chinese will keep a close watch on the development of cross-Straits ties and will not allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China."

Others present at the forum also said the "four wants" raised by Chen marked another dangerous step toward Taiwan independence.

Chen Shui-bian said at a gathering in early March that he wanted independence, a new constitution, development and new names for local firms that use the word "China" in their titles.

The words ran contrary to his pledge when he took office in 2000 that he would adhere to the "four nos": namely, no declaration of Taiwan independence, no incorporation of the "two states" remarks into the so-called "constitution," no change of the province's name and no referendum on Taiwan independence.