Two sides should work together to achieve reunification, forum told

The two sides of the Taiwan Straits should work together to promote the reunification and the rejuvenation of the nation, Chinese mainland and Taiwan representatives said on Friday. 

They made the remarks at a cross-Straits forum themed on inheriting the spirits of the Revolution of 1911, which ended imperial rule in China. Scholars attended the forum via video link from venues in Beijing, Taiwan, Guangdong and Hubei provinces.

Liu Jieyi, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said in his address that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people have strong resolve, firm will and strong ability to achieve complete reunification of the motherland. 

"We have maintained the initiative and the ability to steer in cross-Straits relations," he said, adding that for realizing China's complete reunification, time and momentum are always on the side of promoting the reunification of the motherland.

The mainland is willing to do its utmost to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification. However, if the secessionist forces cross the "red line" and undermine the prospects for peaceful reunification, the mainland will have to take decisive measures, Liu said. 

The fundamental reason for the current tension across the Straits is that the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan colluded with foreign forces to seek independence in an attempt to deny the fact and status quo that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, he said. 

The secessionists are the common enemy of compatriots on both sides and an obstacle that will be cleared in the course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Liu said, adding "Those who betray the motherland or split the country will be rejected by the people and judged by history." 

Kao Yu-jen, chairman of the 21st Century Foundation, a think tank in Taiwan, said many cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation have been suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The DPP government's stance against the mainland has added more pressure on the strained cross-Straits relations, he said, adding that Taiwan Straits has become the forefront of Sino-US confrontation. 

At this critical moment, it's more important for the two sides to seek a common foundation for peaceful development and avoid sparking a conflict accidentally and ensure the maximum security and well-being of people on both sides, he said. 

Regarding the grim cross-Straits relations, Chao Chien-min, a professor of cross-Straits studies at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, said think tanks need to do more research on how to enhance mutual trust between the two sides. 

A poll in Taiwan last month found that more Taiwan people consider cross-Straits relations more important than the ties with the US, and that nearly 60 percent of Taiwan people have a favorable opinion of mainland residents, he said.