Taiwan's DPP authorities pose biggest barrier to cross-Strait exchanges: spokeswoman

BEIJING -- Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have been acting as the biggest barrier to cross-Strait exchanges, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a news conference when asked for comments on the DPP authorities' tight vetting on students applying for education exchange programs on the mainland.

"The DPP authorities have gone extreme lengths to obstruct normal education and youth exchanges across the Strait," Zhang said, noting that the move has exposed their malicious agenda of escalating cross-Strait confrontation and antagonism.

Peace, development, exchanges and cooperation represent mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, said Zhang. "The desire of compatriots across the Strait for closer ties and the momentum of exchanges and cooperation are unstoppable."

While revealing that the DPP authorities are intentionally creating "information cocoon" in Taiwan, Zhang extended an invitation to the people of Taiwan to visit the mainland and see the real mainland for themselves.

The spokeswoman also called on people from Taiwan to stay clear-headed in the face of Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's separatist rhetoric and take a firm stand against "Taiwan independence" separatist acts.