The newly-enacted Anti-Secession Law, which is aimed at preventing Taiwan's secession from the country, was warmly welcomed by the Taiwan business people on the Chinese mainland.

"I support the law and I think the majority of the Taiwan business people share my opinion. The law targets 'Taiwan independence' secessionists and it aims at protecting the fundamental rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots," said Oliver Ho, president of the Taiwan Investors Association in Zhangzhou, eastern Fujian Province, the ancestral hometown for many Taiwan people.

The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, ratified the 10-article Anti-Secession Law by 2,896 pros, no con and 2 abstentions Monday morning as it ended a 9.5-day annual full session in Beijing.

The promulgated law provides for "the nature of the Taiwan issue," the pursuit of national reunification through peaceful means, and the employment of non-peaceful means to check Taiwan's secession from China as the last resort.

"But it is not a 'law of war', but a law endorsing peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits," said Professor Zhou Yezhong, vice president of China Constitution Association, who had taken part in enacting the law.

"Just as Premier Wen Jiabao said at a press conference Monday, the law stipulates as long as there is a glimmer of hope for peaceful reunification, the Chinese government will exert its utmost to make it happen rather than give it up," said Zhou.

Ho shows agreement with Professor Zhou. "The zero-opposition when approving the law just shows the strong determination and confidence of Chinese government to safeguard the country's territory integrity," he said.

"I also notice that there are articles in the law, which promote exchanges between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, encourage and facilitate economic cooperation -- That is really encouraging information for us," said Ho.