Spokeswoman blames DPP for cross-Strait consultation breakdown

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, on Wednesday rejected claims by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities that the mainland had unilaterally suspended institutionalized cross-Strait consultations and restricted exchanges, stating that the DPP should take responsibility for the current situation.

At a news conference, Zhu said that recent claims by the DPP authorities distorted the facts and shifted responsibility. The DPP authorities recently claimed that the mainland suspended institutionalized consultations because Taiwan would not accept the one-China principle, halted individual tourist visits to the island, and obstructed mainland students and tourists from traveling to Taiwan.

Zhu stated that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and that Taiwan is part of China, describing this as both a historical fact and a legal reality. She emphasized that it is on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been able to conduct consultations and negotiations and reach a series of outcomes that benefit compatriots on both sides of the strait.

After taking office, the DPP authorities refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus and unilaterally undermined the political foundation for cross-Strait consultations, resulting in the suspension of institutionalized talks and communication mechanisms, Zhu said. She added that the situation had led to the erosion of achievements made during the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and posed challenges to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Zhu also accused the DPP authorities of increasingly restricting personnel exchanges and cooperation across various fields, saying such measures had harmed the interests of people in Taiwan and drawn criticism from different sectors on the island. She urged the DPP authorities to stop political manipulation, listen more to the views of people and businesses in Taiwan, and take steps conducive to the development of cross-Strait relations and the well-being of people on both sides.