BEIJING - A police probe against "Taiwan independence" separatist Shen Pao-yang over secession charges is a just and necessary move to safeguard national unity, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said Tuesday.

Chen Binhua, the spokesperson, made the statement after police in Chongqing city announced that they had launched a criminal investigation against Shen over his suspected acts of secession, including initiating and establishing the separatist organization, the Kuma Academy.

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"The aim of striking hard against and severely punishing an extremely small number of 'Taiwan independence' secessionists in accordance with the law is to protect the interests and well-being of the overwhelming majority of Taiwan compatriots and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chen said.