May 2004: Premier Wen Jiabao says he will 'seriously consider' adopting a reunification law to prevent Taiwan moving towards independence in response to a question during a visit to London. December 17: Beijing announces its plan to introduce the anti-secession law. December 21: Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao confirms the proposed law will target Taiwan. December 25-29: The NPC Standing Committee unanimously endorses submission of the draft law to the NPC plenum. December 29: NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo says curbing 'the secessionist activities of the Taiwanese independence forces and promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland' are the main themes of the draft law. December 31 and January 1: President Hu Jintao reiterates the mainland's determination to defend its sovereignty over Taiwan in his New Year messages. January 1, 2005: In his New Year message, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian says the proposed law will change the status quo and poses the greatest threat to regional stability and world peace. January 5: The director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Yunlin , meets US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage in Washington to discuss the legislation. February: The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission urges the Bush administration to oppose the planned legislation. Friday: NPC spokesman Jiang Enzhu says the anti-secession law is not a war-mobilisation law, but is meant to contain Taiwan's separatist activities in order to ensure peace and stability. Today: NPC Vice-Chairman Wang Zhaoguo will present the bill.
