1992 Consensus and opposition to 'Taiwan independence' key to negotiations, says spokesman

Cross-Strait negotiations can be restored and all matters can be discussed and negotiated, as long as the 1992 Consensus is upheld and opposition to "Taiwan independence" is maintained, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday.

Chen Binhua made the remarks at a news conference in response to recent political views expressed by Hou You-yi, the Taiwan regional leadership candidate from the Kuomintang. Hou said that if elected, he would promote dialogue, negotiation and cooperation with the Chinese mainland.

Chen said that when the Taiwan Strait is peaceful and stable, the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots can be enhanced. "When the Taiwan Strait is tense and turbulent, those of Taiwan compatriots will be compromised," he said.

From 2008 to 2016, both sides of the Taiwan Strait, adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence", created the conditions for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Chen said, noting that had brought tangible benefits to compatriots on both sides, especially those in Taiwan, and injected positive energy into the prosperity and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

But he said that ever since the Democratic Progressive Party came into power in Taiwan in 2016, it had persistently clung to a "Taiwan independence" separatist stance, refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus, colluded with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence", and gradually pushed Taiwan into a dangerous situation of war and peril.

He said Taiwan was standing at a crossroads.

"As long as the 1992 Consensus is upheld, and opposition to 'Taiwan independence' is maintained, cross-Strait relations can return to the track of peaceful development, negotiations can be resumed, and all matters can be discussed and negotiated," he said.

"We sincerely hope that compatriots on both sides of the Strait can join hands to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, promote peaceful development in cross-Strait relations, and create a new era of prosperity and development."