Mainland urges Taiwan to enhance cross-Strait cooperation

As the Chinese mainland moved to expand market access for agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan, a mainland spokewoman on Wednesday urged Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities to facilitate cross-Strait cooperation instead of blocking people's interests.

Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, stated at a regular news conference that the mainland has been working hard to help farmers and fishermen in Taiwan expand access to the mainland market, aiming to improve the lives of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

She accused the DPP authorities of exploiting livelihood issues for political purposes while repeatedly attacking and smearing the mainland, saying such actions once again exposed what she described as their hostility toward the people and their tendency to "oppose anything related to China".

Following the mainland's announcement at the 18th Straits Forum that it would import atemoya, a hybrid of custard apples, from Taiwan's Taitung county, as well as grouper from Pingtung county, Taiwan's "mainland affairs council" said the mainland had long used agricultural products as a tool for "united front" work toward Taiwan and influenced the market by imposing political conditions.

In response, Zhang said farmers in Taiwan clearly understand who is safeguarding their interests and who is harming them. She urged the DPP authorities to follow mainstream public opinion on the island, respond to calls from industry, and do more to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, rather than opposing the people and blocking their interests.

A spokesman from Taiwan's "mainland affairs council" recently said that "atemoya is hardly eaten by people in Taiwan" and is "entirely dependent on the mainland for its survival," which drew criticism on the island for disregarding people's livelihoods. Zhang criticized the DPP authorities for neglecting the interests of grassroots farmers and fishermen while belittling the fruits of their labor and discrediting the mainland's goodwill.

She further denounced the DPP's approach to stigmatize "united front" efforts and use the term to smear the mainland's policies benefiting Taiwan residents and cross-Strait exchange activities. She said the concept of the "united front" originated from the anti-Japanese national united front formed during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), which contributed significantly to victory in the war.

"Today, the main connotation of 'united front' is still 'unity', and it is about bringing people together, building consensus, and pooling strength," Zhang said, while reminding people in Taiwan not to be misled by the DPP authorities. Zhang also warned that unless the DPP authorities stop politicizing the issue and cease restricting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, they will face growing public backlash.