Island authorities accused of slandering new cross-Straits benefits

The slandering of new measures unveiled by the Chinese mainland to benefit Taiwan residents exposed the island authorities' dark psychology of antagonizing the interests of Taiwan compatriots, the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Monday.

Measures to further promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits were unveiled on Monday by the office and the National Development and Reform Commission.

Known as the "26 measures", they aim to improve institutional arrangements and policy measures for promoting cross-Straits exchanges, deepening integrated cross-Straits development, and ensuring the well-being of Taiwan compatriots.

The new measures are a supplement to and improvement on the "31 measures" unveiled last year that gave Taiwan residents who study and work on the mainland the same treatment as mainland residents.

The island's mainland affairs authority said in a statement on Monday that by issuing the policies, the Communist Party of China intended to divide Taiwan and influence the island's leadership election, scheduled for January.

On the surface, the measures were designed to benefit Taiwan residents, it said, but in fact they would benefit the mainland.

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang responded by saying, "While residents on both sides welcomed the new measures, the island administration couldn't wait to slander and denigrate the policies, further exposing its dark psychology of antagonizing the interests of the majority of Taiwan compatriots."

Ma said that when the "31 measures" were issued in February last year, the island authorities sought every possible way to discredit them. However, they had been greatly welcomed by Taiwan residents, who had benefited from them.

"Now the mainland has rolled out the new measures, giving Taiwan residents more opportunities on the mainland and helping them live a better life," he said. "In contrast, the Democratic Progressive Party, the ruling party on the island, has overlooked people's needs. They slandered the policies and even threatened to punish those who enjoy the policies on the mainland."

The more practical and beneficial things the mainland does for Taiwan compatriots, the more seriously the DPP will react and resist the mainland, Ma said, adding that "In their mind, there is only political manipulation, but no public interest."

He said the two sides belong to one family and the mainland will keep doing things that will benefit Taiwan residents.

"The DPP couldn't stop Taiwan residents from enjoying the measures issued last year; nor will it this year," Ma said. "Those who go against people's interests will be abandoned by people in the end."