BEIJING, January 28 (Xinhua) -- Vice-Premier Qian Qichen today

called on compatriots across the Taiwan Straits to unite and

strive for peaceful reunification.

"Taiwan independence" absolutely will not mean peace but a war

between the two sides of the straits, and compatriots both in

Taiwan and the mainland must make concerted efforts to fight

against it, Qian said at a forum here.

The forum was held to mark the fifth anniversary of the eight-

point proposition made by President Jiang Zemin on China's

reunification.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government

will never make compromise on safeguarding national sovereignty

and territorial integrity, Qian said, warning that separatists in

Taiwan must not "play with fire."

"We'll continue to carry out the basic principle of "peaceful

reunification, and one country, two systems" and the eight-point

proposition put forward by President Jiang Zemin for an early

reunification of the motherland, he said.

The vice-premier hailed Jiang's reunification statement as

realizing Deng Xiaoping's principal concept of "peaceful

reunification, and one country, two systems", saying that it is

the guiding document and principle for resolving the Taiwan issue

at the present stage.

He said the recent return of Macao to the motherland, following

that of Hong Kong in 1997, is one great and firm step closer to

the reunification of the motherland.

Over the past decade, the Chinese government has had to put up

heated and repeated struggles against Taiwan's separatist force

led by Lee Teng-hui, Qian said, adding that Lee has told the world

his ultimate goal to split the motherland by advertising the "two-

state" theory.

The vice-premier said China's anti-separatist campaign has won

widespread support around the world. There is no country in the

world that supports or chimes in with Lee's "two-state" remarks.

Lee has failed to overturn the one China principle, but instead,

has turned himself a "trouble maker" for the international

community, said Qian.

The vice-premier stressed that to realize peaceful

reunification, both sides of the Taiwan Straits must adhere to the

one China principle and seek ways to solve the differences between

them through equal consultations.

Policies dealing with the Taiwan issue will be more flexible

than those for Hong Kong and Macao to fully meet the aspirations

and demands of compatriots in Taiwan, said Qian, who is confident

that the Taiwan compatriots will finally come to believe that

reunification under the "one country, two systems" principle is

the best way to safeguard their interests.

The vice-premier reiterated that the mainland will continue to

promote economic and cultural exchanges, and work for the

establishment of direct links in trade, transportation and postal

services between the two sides of the straits.

He emphasized that no matter what happens, the legitimate

rights and interests of Taiwan investors will be protected in the

mainland.

The mainland is willing to see Taiwan join the World Trade

Organization (WTO) as a separate customs territory following the

mainland's entry, Qian said.

Cross-strait talks under the one China principle are a must to

seek ways for the peaceful reunification, the vice-premier said.

Topics of the talks can be the "three direct links," economic

relations after the WTO entry of the two sides, the international

space for economic, cultural and social activities of Taiwan that

suits it, and the political status of the Taiwan authorities.

He reiterated that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of

China, and all foreign countries should respect the feeling and

will of the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots.

China firmly opposes any foreign force to sell advanced weapons

to Taiwan, or sell or transfer to Taiwan technologies related to

the so-call theater missile defense system. China also strongly

opposes the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act of the U.S. Congress,

the vice-premier.

Li Ruihuan, a member of the Standing Committee of Political

Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National

Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative

Conference, was present at the forum.