DPP actions 'biggest obstacle' to cooperation, says Taiwan affairs official

The attempt by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities to seek "independence" is the biggest obstacle to cross-Strait economic cooperation and peaceful development of relations, said Song Tao, the Chinese mainland's senior Taiwan affairs official.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at an economic exchange event attended by about 500 people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on Tuesday.

The healthy development of economic and trade relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan requires the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Song said, adding that the "current cross-Strait relations are faced with the choice of peace or war, prosperity or recession".

Strengthening cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation serves the common interests of compatriots on both sides, and deepening the integrated development of the two sides is an important way to benefit the people, he said.

The mainland will take concrete measures to help Taiwan enterprises on the mainland accelerate their transformation and upgrading, expand demand, and create favorable conditions for young people from Taiwan to study, find jobs, start businesses and live on the mainland, he added.

Song called on compatriots in Taiwan to firmly oppose separatist moves for "Taiwan independence" as well as interference by external forces, and promote the steady and lasting peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Hsia Li-yan, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, the island's main opposition party, said at the event that business people from Taiwan have benefited from peaceful cross-Strait relations. The KMT will continue to promote cross-Strait youth exchanges, and further promote cross-Strait industrial cooperation in key areas, he added.