Taiwan authorities urged to lift barriers

BEIJING: The Chinese mainland will expand exchanges with Taiwan if the island removes obstacles hindering cross-Straits communications, a mainland spokesman said after many newly elected county and city heads said they expect more cooperation with the mainland to boost their economy.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that with a correct understanding of the nature of cross-Straits relations, the exchanges and cooperation between counties and cities will be more extensive.

In Taiwan’s local polls over the weekend, the Kuomintang won 15 of the 22 seats contested, while the ruling Democratic Progressive Party landed six, with one going to an independent candidate.

Ma said it was the Democratic Progressive Party that erected obstacles to cross-Straits exchanges in the previous two years.

“We need more time to observe whether the expectations will be realised,” he said.

“The sooner they remove the barriers, the sooner both sides can enjoy the benefits of cross-Straits exchanges,” the spokesman added.

He said the Democratic Progressive Party should conduct a review of what it has done, respect the will of the public in Taiwan to share the benefits of development, and return to the 1992 Consensus on the one-China policy.