Taiwan blamed for suspension of cross-Straits communication

BEIJING -- Taiwan side should take full responsibility for suspension of communication mechanisms between the Chinese mainland and the island, a mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Taiwan's current administration has not recognized the 1992 Consensus which endorses the one-China principle, shaking the political foundation for cross-Straits interaction, said An Fengshan of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office at a press conference.

Suspended communication mechanisms include both the regular mechanism between cross-Straits affairs departments and the consultation mechanism between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Both operated on the basis of the 1992 Consensus. An said, "Peaceful development of cross-Strait ties since 2008 did not come out of the blue."

The mainland has not changed in its stance, An said. "It was the Taiwan side which changed the situation."

The key to ensuring negotiation and contact is whether the SEF will be authorized to confirm adherence to the consensus, An said.

"On such a fundamental question, ambiguity is of no avail," An said.