Mainland spokesman reiterates stand on Taiwan

On the 10th anniversary of the historic 2015 meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou, a mainland spokesperson reiterated the importance of the 1992 Consensus and opposition to ‘Taiwan independence’ in maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait. Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized that the 1992 Consensus remains the political cornerstone for peaceful cross-Strait relations. He highlighted the 2015 meeting as a pivotal moment in fostering institutionalized exchanges and stability between the two sides. Ma Ying-jeou, in a social media post, echoed this sentiment, urging current Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te to return to the shared political foundation to avoid escalating tensions. Chen warned that any deviation from the one-China principle and pursuit of ‘Taiwan independence’ would lead to confrontation and hinder dialogue. He stressed that reunification is an inevitable historical trend, while ‘Taiwan independence’ is a dead end. The mainland expressed willingness to strengthen communication with Taiwan’s political parties and groups to enhance cross-Strait relations and improve the well-being of compatriots on both sides.