Mainland to resolutely forestall separatist moves: Statement

Chinese paramilitary policemen stand guard in front of a huge portrait of Chinese revolutionary pioneer Sun Yat-sen, at the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, Oct 1, 2015. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland remains as determined as ever and has even stronger ability to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the mainland Taiwan Affairs authority on Friday.

"Taiwan independence" remains the biggest menace to peace across the Taiwan Straits and the peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations, said a statement issued by the head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, after Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen took office on Friday morning.

Pursuing "Taiwan Independence" can in no way bring peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, it warned.

"We will resolutely forestall any separatist moves and plots to pursue 'Taiwan independence' in any form," it said.

The statement listed three major questions that the Taiwan authorities must give explicit answer with concrete actions and face the test of history and the people.

-- The choice between upholding the common political foundation that embodies the one China principle and pursuing separatist propositions of "Taiwan Independence" such as "two Chinas" or "one country on each side".

-- The choice between staying on the path of peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations and repeating the past practice of provoking cross-Straits tension and instability.

-- The choice between enhancing the affinity and well-being of people on both sides and severing their blood ties and undermining their fundamental interests.

Reiterating the mainland's policy, the statement said the mainland will continue to adhere to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence", firmly uphold the one China principle and work with Taiwan compatriots and all political parties and groups in Taiwan who recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same China to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, maintain and advance the peaceful growth of cross-Straits relations and strive for the prospect of China's peaceful reunification.