Tsai's moves will only backfire

Editor's note: Taiwan authorities are reportedly planning to "punish" the international airlines that have complied with the Chinese civil aviation administration's standard of referring to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao as Chinese territories, in order to counter the rising influence of the Chinese mainland. Two experts share their views with China Daily's Yao Yuxin on how the "pro-independence" moves of Taiwan authorities will affect cross-Straits ties and Taiwan compatriots' livelihoods. Excerpts follow:

'Pro-independence' moves undermine residents' rights

Thanks to Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus, cross-Straits relations have deteriorated over the past two years. And due to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's consistently "pro-independence" stance and Tsai's flexible approach to "de-Sinicization", such as downgrading of Chinese history in textbooks of senior high school, the mainland has lost trust in the island's leadership.