Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, China, Feb 23, 2022. (CHEN YEHUA / XINHUA)
BEIJING – There is no obstacle on the Chinese mainland to resuming the direct passenger transport links between the coastal areas of Fujian province and the Kinmen and Matsu areas in Taiwan, a mainland spokesman said on Wednesday.
Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remark at a news conference in Beijing.
We hope that DPP authorities will lift the restrictions as soon as possible and stop harming the vital interests of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, especially those in Kinmen and Matsu.
Ma Xiaoguang, Spokesman, Taiwan Affairs Office, State Council
Taiwan's mainland affairs authority said recently that the island has completed preparations and will coordinate with the mainland on resumption of the service.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan unilaterally suspended the passenger route in February 2020 on the grounds of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control.
The move had severely affected the exchange of people on both sides of the Straits, especially between Fujian and Taiwan, Ma said on Wednesday.
Denouncing the DPP authorities who said that the resumption of the route requires "official communication" between the two sides, Ma said that the Taiwan side had unilaterally decided on the suspension in 2020, but were now demanding communication.
He said that this was political manipulation aimed at delaying resumption of the service and passing the buck to the mainland.
"We hope that DPP authorities will lift the restrictions as soon as possible and stop harming the vital interests of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, especially those in Kinmen and Matsu," he said.
As for the recent proposal to construct a bridge between Kinmen and Xiamen, Ma said the mainland supports such measures and the obstacles lie with the DPP authorities.
‘Relying on external forces’
Ma also admonished the DPP authorities for their attempts to seek "Taiwan independence" relying on external forces.
The mainland has always been committed to promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and integrated development of the two sides, as well as the peaceful reunification of China, he said adding that this includes safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.
"Only by resolutely opposing and deterring separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence,' can peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait be safeguarded.”
Damage of cultural relics
Referring to the damage of cultural relics in the Palace Museum in Taipei, the spokesperson said the mainland was saddened by this.
The Palace Museum in Beijing and the Palace Museum in Taipei share the same roots, and the cultural relics collected are the treasures of the Chinese nation, he said, adding: "It is the basic responsibility of relevant parties in Taiwan to ensure the safety of cultural relics."
"We are committed to promoting cross-Straits cultural exchanges and cooperation and deepening cross-Strait integrated development.”
The palace museums on both sides of the Straits have a solid foundation for cooperation, said Ma, pledging further in-depth exchanges to jointly safeguard the precious cultural relics of the Chinese nation.