The Chinese mainland warned yesterday it would take "necessary measures" if Taiwan independence forces continued to push their activities.

If "Taiwan independence" forces clung to their course, the mainland "will definitely take necessary measures to safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity and protect our nation's core interests", said Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The priority is to prevent the Taiwan authorities, headed by Chen Shui-bian, from promoting a "referendum" on Taiwan's bid to enter into the United Nations, and fight secessionist actions, Yang said.

"We will never compromise on the issue of secession and never accept 'Taiwan independence'," he said.

Yang also expressed strong opposition to Taiwan's development of nuclear weapons, in response to a journalist's question on Chen Shui-bian's remark that Taiwan would not develop nuclear weapons, but needed to improve its defense capability.

"We have noticed the reports," Yang said. "We are uncompromisingly against Taiwan's development of nuclear weapons or nuclear weapon capability in any form."

The report to the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) by Hu Jintao set the tone for mainland policies on Taiwan, he said. "We will never waver in our commitment to the one-China principle, never abandon our efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, never change the policy of placing our hopes on the people of Taiwan," he said.