Taiwan urged to make changes

Beijing is ‘willing’ to do more, but 1992 Consensus should be recognized first

A spokesman for the Chinese mainland said on Wednesday that the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle is the political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and that the island’s authorities have refused to reiterate its validity.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the principle clearly defines the fundamental nature of cross-Straits relations and that good relations will help serve the interests and improve the wellbeing of compatriots in Taiwan.

“The mainland is willing to actively promote whatever is good for Taiwan residents based on a correct stance,” Ma said, adding that since the Democratic Progressive Party took office in 2016, it adopted many unreasonable measures restricting exchanges.

“People want to improve the economy,” he said. “The mainland is making efforts, and we hope the island side will review and change those unreasonable policies, including restrictions on mainland investment on the island.”

The island’s leader, Tsai Ing-wen, said recently that the island’s authorities are open to exchanges between cities and counties but said she didn’t want any political preconditions. The island’s mainland affairs council also said it won’t change its stance.

Ma said that “no political precondition” refers to refusing to recognize the one-China principle, and that the island’s cross-Straits policy has seriously harmed the interests of the people there.

If the ruling DPP continues to brush off public opinion that favors the development of cross-Straits relations, as well as the desire of people to improve their livelihoods, it will only be left in a more passive position, he added.

Ma said that with a correct understanding of the nature of cross-Straits relations, the exchanges and cooperation between cities and counties will definitely expand.

In local elections last month in Taiwan, the Kuomintang won 15 of the 22 contested seats, while the ruling DPP landed six.

The newly elected Kuomintang county and city heads all publicly declared that they will uphold the 1992 Consensus and expect more cooperation with the mainland to stimulate economic development.

On Monday, the head of the island’s Penghu county visited Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in Beijing, and they exchanged ideas on issues including the sale of Penghu agricultural products to the mainland and tourism.