BEIJING: The Chinese mainland will strongly oppose “Taiwan independence” secession and interference by external forces, maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations in the new year, the mainland’s Taiwan affairs authority said.
Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in a New Year message published on Tuesday in Relations Across the Taiwan Strait magazine.
Song said the mainland firmly maintained its dominance in steering cross-Strait relations last year, steadily promoting the peaceful and integrated development of the two sides and advancing the process of national reunification. Efforts were made to resume and expand cross-Strait exchanges, Song said. “More Taiwan compatriots have recognized the importance of communication among family members and the value of harmony,” he said.
The mainland also continued to deepen the integrated development of both sides, and in September a policy was issued by authorities to support Fujian province to build a demonstration zone for integrated development across the Taiwan Strait to push forward the peaceful reunification of the two sides. “Taiwan compatriots and enterprises have confidence in the mainland market and have a positive view of the prospects for development and establishing roots on the mainland,” Song said.
Adhering to the policies of peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems”, the mainland maintained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely opposed “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference in the past year, he said. Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen, who will leave office upon the completion of her second four-year term in May, gave her final New Year’s Day address on Monday. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
