China on Wednesday warned Taiwan that it was "extremely dangerous" for the island to pursue its bid to secure independence, saying that Beijing would not tolerate any such attempt in consideration of economic development and the 2008 Olympics in the country.

"It is extremely dangerous for the Taiwan authorities to miscalculate the situation that the motherland would tolerate 'Taiwan independence' in consideration of economic development and the hosting of Beijing Olympics," the Deputy Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (China's cabinet), Wang Zaixi, said.

Wang, also deputy director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a seminar on Cross-Straits Relations and Economic Exchanges held in the east Chinese city of Hangzhou.

The firm crackdown against and effective containment of "Taiwan independence" separatism concerns the peace and stability of the Straits, China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity and the prospect of peaceful reunification, and has become "the most pressing task" for mainland and Taiwan compatriots, Wang said.

"The current cross-Straits situation is severe," he said, noting the "separatist forces" have become the largest threat to the peace and stability in the region.

"We will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China through any means," he said amid provocative military exercises by Beijing and Taipei.

Source: The Hindu