Chinese mainland urges DPP to give up 'Taiwan independence' stance

BEIJING -- Only by giving up on "Taiwan independence" can the current administration of Taiwan genuinely enhance cross-Strait relations, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press briefing when answering media questions.

Ma reiterated the significance of the 1992 Consensus, which stresses that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and that the fundamental nature of mainland-Taiwan relations is not a state-to-state relationship.

The fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never changed and will never change, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China is a line that cannot be crossed, he noted.

Based on the one-China principle, China has always upheld that the two sides could seek solutions to political differences through equal negotiations, Ma said.

The mainstream of Taiwan residents, he said, are in favor of opposing "Taiwan independence" and championing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. A healthy, stable and win-win cross-Strait relationship is crucial to the economic development and social stability of the island, Ma continued.

The DPP would be well advised to understand the situation and make an informed choice, he said.

The mainland also firmly opposes attempts by any countries that have diplomatic relations with China to develop military bonds with or sell weapons to Taiwan, Ma stated.