Taiwan policy unchanged after elections: mainland

BEIJING, Feb. 24 -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday promised no major changes in its Taiwan policy in the wake of the island's recent leadership elections.

"Our fundamental policies toward Taiwan have always been clear and consistent," An Fengshan, of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters at a regular briefing.

"No matter which party or group, no matter what they have advocated in the past, as long as they are willing to recognize the 1992 Consensus and acknowledge the fact that both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China, we are willing to engage with them," An said.

His words came about a month after Tsai Ing-wen, candidate for Taiwan's pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the island's recent leadership elections, beating rival Kuomintang runner Eric Chu.

Tsai is expected to take office on May 20.

Asked how the Chinese mainland will interact with the new administration, An said it would continue to promote peaceful development of ties across the Taiwan Strait and protect peace and stability in the region on the political basis of the 1992 Consensus and opposition to Taiwan independence.

"We resolutely oppose all forms of secessionist activities and will take measures to safeguard China's sovereign and territorial integrity," he added.

According to An, negotiators from both sides are communicating on their next face-to-face meeting, but did not specify whether one such meeting could take place before Tsai assumes her role as Taiwan's top leader.

The mainland spokesperson also declined to comment on the Kuomintang's chairperson election, but urged the Kuomintang to continue to work with the Communist Party of China to promote cross-Strait ties to benefit people on both sides.

He went on to suggest Taiwan authorities fast-track the passing of a much delayed cross-Strait service trade pact aimed at opening up investment from both sides in industries such as banking, health-care and tourism, which was bogged down after student protests in 2014.

"The impasse of the cross-Strait service trade pact ... is not normal, and it is the traders and the common people who are the biggest losers here," An said, adding that some progress might be made on a cross-Strait goods trade pact soon.

He also expressed hope that youth across the Taiwan Strait could "close their psychological gap" and enhance mutual understanding via exchanges and cooperation.

Asked to comment on dropping numbers of mainland tourists to Taiwan, the spokesman attributed the fluctuation to "market behavior" and to the "willingness of tourists and travel agencies."

"We hope that a healthy and orderly environment for development of mainland-to-Taiwan tourism can be maintained while safeguarding mainland tourists' rights," An said.

"We will deal with the situation based on developments of cross-Strait ties and changes in the supply and demand of cross-Strait tourism markets," he said.