BEIJING: A Chinese mainland spokesman urged Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities on Wednesday to lift restrictions on cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, aligning with mainstream public opinion on the island.
The mainland, on Sunday, released a package of 10 measures aimed at promoting exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press conference that the mainland will advance implementation of the policy package to benefit people on both sides.
He called on the DPP authorities to heed public opinion and respond to industry concerns by removing obstacles to the normalization of cross-Strait personnel exchanges and cooperation across various sectors.
The measures cover areas including party-to-party communication mechanisms, youth exchanges, infrastructure connectivity, economic cooperation, tourism and cultural exchanges.
The package was released as a delegation led by Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang, concluded a six-day visit to the mainland on Sunday.
Responding to DPP claims that the measures “instrumentalize exchanges” and “weaponize economic cooperation”, Chen said similar policies benefiting Taiwan compatriots are routinely mischaracterized by the DPP. He accused the DPP authorities of opposing measures that could improve the well-being of people in Taiwan.
Chen said what a section of the media described as a “reflexive response” from the DPP has drawn criticism on the island, urging the authorities to be more attentive to public opinion and take concrete steps to promote exchanges rather than obstruct access to benefits.
Lee Cheng-hung, president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, said the measures address key needs in cross-Strait cooperation and provide stronger support for Taiwan investors and businesses operating on the mainland. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
