Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Friday denounced Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian for scrapping a policy-making council on unification with the mainland, warning the move is very risky and the scheme will not succeed.

Li made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, in the Great Hall of the People.

Chen announced on Monday that the "National Unification Council " founded in 1990 shall "cease to function" and the "National Unification Guidelines" shall "cease to apply."

Chinese President Hu Jintao said during a meeting with visiting Swiss Defense Minister Samuel Schmid on Feb. 28 that "it is a grave provocation to the one-China policy universally adhered to by the international community and cross-Straits peace and stability."

Chen's decision is a dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence, " Hu said.

Source: Xinhua