A general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) said here Wednesday that the Chinese military should keep highly vigilant against the secessionist activities of "Taiwan independence" forces, and strive hard for the prospect of China's peaceful reunification.

"We should make utmost efforts with greatest sincerity to safeguard and promote the peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits relations, and strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification," General Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), told fellow lawmakers on Wednesday afternoon.

Guo, a deputy from the PLA delegation to the ongoing First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks during a group discussion on the government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the session's opening on Wednesday morning.

"Meanwhile, we should keep highly vigilant against the secessionist activities of 'Taiwan independence' forces, and should never allow anyone to secede Taiwan from the motherland in any name and by any means," he added.

"We have the resolution and capability to deal with any major 'Taiwan independence' incidents at any time," said Guo.

Guo told his fellow deputies that it must be ensured that the PLA resolutely follows the orders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the CMC, and Chairman Hu Jintao of the CMC.

"We should heighten our sense of mission, responsibility and crisis, further improve our combat readiness, make great efforts to strengthen military training, particularly training in the complicated electromagnetic environment, actively promote the development of arms and equipment of high and new technology, and build up a modern logistics system in a comprehensive manner," said the general.

Also at the group discussion, General Xu Caihou, another CMC vice chairman, said that the PLA must "make unswerving efforts to arm itself with theories of socialism with Chinese characteristics," and earnestly study the guidelines set at the 17th CPC National Congress.

"We must push forward military reform and preparations for military struggle in a down-to-earth manner, ... and fulfill our sacred mission to the satisfaction of both the Party and the people," he urged.

The PLA lawmakers shared the view that the government work report delivered by Premier Wen is a good, encouraging document which keeps pace with the times and displays a pioneering, truth-seeking spirit.

They hold that the past five years has witnessed great progress for China's national defense and army building, expressing the hope that the PLA will do an even better job in military modernization in the new year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2008)