The Anti-Secession Law was given high-vote backing by the third session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) on February 14. The masses in all parts of China have expressed their support, believing that the law has fully shown the common will and firm determination of the entire Chinese people for safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It is a law for maintaining across-Straits peace and stability and for promoting the national peaceful reunification of the motherland. It is in accordance with the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese nation including Taiwan compatriots.

Beijing: The law is of far-reaching "strategic vision and political wisdom''

In the capital of Beijing, either the city dwellers or the experts, they are all in favor of the unanimous passing of the Anti-Secession Law with both hands raised. "This is a vital measure adopted by the mainland to solve the Taiwan question''. Li Xinming, a taxi driver with Beijing Crescent Taxi Company, said, "The law has made the voice from the masses become a national will, which is the common aspiration of the ordinary people in China''.

Professor Liu Zhentao from the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Qinghua University also believes that the law is based on the broad public opinion and fully reflects the sincerity of China's efforts in achieving the peaceful reunification across the Straits and the determination to firmly safeguard the national core interests. The law is in accordance with the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation including Taiwan compatriots.

In all the higher learning institutions in Beijing, the passing of the Anti-Secession Law has become the hot topic for students' discussions. There are repeated posts on the net forums on school websites. Wang Hao, a student with the Institute of International relations under Peking University, said China has promulgated the severe and rational law to restrain "Taiwan independence'' forces and seek peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question through legislation. The law is of far-reaching "strategic vision and political wisdom''.

Shanghai: The passing of the law is under expectation

In Shanghai where is concentration of the enterprises invested by Taiwan businesspeople many Taiwan businesspeople watched the television direct transmission of the voting on the Anti-Secession Law by the National People's Congress. They expressed it is under their early expectation that the NPC deputies would unanimously pass the law.

"As for the passing of the law aiming at maintaining national peaceful reunification, I express my understanding and support and believe that it is the common desire of the most Taiwan businesspeople in Shanghai'', said Hector Yeh, president of the Association of Shanghai-Taiwan Businessmen Invested Enterprises in Shanghai. He pointed out that for the Taiwan businesspeople that have benefited from the economic development on the mainland, especially those who have settled down on the mainland, the least they want to see is Taiwan's secession from the country.

After the passing of the Anti-Secession Law, Feng Jia'an, a citizen in Shanghai, made a phone call to inform his uncle's family immediately. His uncle settled down on the mainland from Taiwan more than 10 years ago and he died of illness several years ago. "For many families like ours, the Taiwan Straits should not become artificial obstructions any more'', Feng Jia'an said.

Fujian: Anti-Secession Law to effectively forward reunification

The conference room on the second floor of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Fujian Province was filled with ovation when people saw via TV that the Anti-Secession Law was passed with an overwhelming majority.

Lin Weiguo, deputy director of the Fujian Taiwan Affairs Office, said Fujian is the main ancestral home for the Taiwan compatriots. Fujian and Taiwan are geographically close and related by blood. We share a common language and the same culture. Therefore Fujian has special responsibility in promoting exchange between the two sides. "We will conscientiously implement the four-point guideline on cross-Straits relations set forth by President Hu Jintao, unswervingly forward the development of Fujiang-Taiwan relationship centering on the construction of the economic zone on the west coast of the Straits and achieve mutually beneficial and win-win situation for Fujian and Taiwan."

The elderly Taiwan compatriot Liu Zhenze who lives at the Shutang Road of Fuzhou said he believes that the adoption of the Anti-Secession Law with an overwhelming majority would effectively forward the peaceful reunification of the two sides. It is quite a comfort for Taiwan compatriots who live on the Chinese mainland.

Taiwan compatriots: Anti-Secession Law very practical

Most of the people believe the Anti-Secession Law is a practical, firm, gentle, rational law, creating an opportunity to push on the relations across the Straits.

Professor Ling-chen Chang with the department of political science of National Taiwan University said in an interview with a People's Daily reporter that the Anti-Secession Law is to curb the increasing secessionist activities such as "referendum", "constitution revision" and "name change of the island" within the island. It is not against the people on the island. It is because of this, the secessionists of "Taiwan independence" feel uneasy and try every means to distort and slander the Anti-Secession Law. Most of the people in Taiwan bear with equanimity as they hope for peace, stability and development. Professor Chang expressed that the facts have proved that "Taiwan independence" is a blind alley. It is in the hope that the minority of the people should go with the trend and turn round as soon as possible.

Wang, chairman of the board of directors of Taiwan China Foundation, said the Anti-Secession Law is not as the "Taiwan independence" forces have publicized that the law is a "law for war". Instead it is a law for peace, which has eliminated the anxiety by the Taiwan public and is conducive to the understanding of the international society on the cause of China's national reunification. The people of Taiwan hope to enjoy a prospect for across-Straits relations beneficial to peace, development, mutual benefit and common advancement. The Anti-Secession Law lists the concrete measures of the mainland to encourage and facilitate cross-Straits exchanges in personnel, economic and trade, and culture, showing that the mainland has taken an active attitude towards the promotion of peace, stability and development across the Straits.

Professor I-Hsin Chen with the Institute of American Studies, Tamkang University, Taiwan suggested the Taiwan authorities should return to "1992 consensus" and improve the relations across the Straits so as to normalize the relations across the Straits.

By People's Daily Online