The spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday said the year 2007 is a crucial period for opposing "Taiwan independence" and safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait.

The spokesman Yang Yi said at a press conference that the cross-Strait relations would face severe challenges this year, as Taiwan authorities try to seek "de jure independence" through the so-called "constitutional reform" which may enter into a "substantive" stage.

He said that resolutely curbing the "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities and safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait are still the most important and urgent tasks for compatriots across the Taiwan Strait.

"We will make utmost efforts to seek the prospect of peaceful reunification with our maximum sincerity. We cannot tolerate "Taiwan independence" and cannot allow any people to secede Taiwan from China by any means," Yang said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2007)