Lawmakers described a new anti-secession law as "extremely necessary" and "very timely" during group discussions yesterday.

The draft law was submitted on Saturday for deliberation at the ongoing 13th session of the Standing Committee of the 10th People's National Congress (NPC) being held in Beijing from December 25 to 29.

During a session attended by top legislator Wu Bangguo, the members of the NPC Standing Committee unanimously said Taiwan is an indispensable part of China, and that the mainland has made a sustained effort for peaceful reunification.

The new law, upholding territorial integrity and national unity, will help mobilize Chinese citizens, including Taiwan patriots, to push for peaceful reunification as well as help maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the whole Asia-Pacific region.

It reflects the Chinese mainland's sincere intention to pursue peaceful reunification, and at the same time demonstrates that any attempts to separate Taiwan from China will never be allowed.

In recent years, the activities of secessionists in the name of "Taiwan independence" have become the largest obstacle to develop the relationship across the Straits and for peaceful reunification, as well as the most serious threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, lawmakers said.

Quite a few Chinese lawmakers and senior government advisers have brought bills, proposals and motions before the NPC.

In order to oppose the Taiwan secessionists, promote the peaceful reunification of China, safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, it is "extremely necessary" and "very timely" to enact the anti-secession law, said lawmakers.

The lawmakers held that the time is right for the new law because China's Constitution provides a basis for formulating the law against secession.

Ongoing statements by three generations of Chinese leaders, especially Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, together with a series of national policies, provide explicit guidelines and a policy foundation for the formulation of the law.

Recent research by legal experts were also helpful in developing the law which show that the NPC plans to legalize its policies on Taiwan, which is also the basic requirement to govern the country by law.

The lawmakers spoke highly of the draft law of anti-secession, saying the draft law fully implemented the basic policies on Taiwan, such as "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems."

The lawmakers unanimously suggested that the draft anti-secession law be submitted to the third annual session of the 10th National People's Congress to be held early in 2005, for further deliberation.

(China Daily December 26, 2004)