Island leader 'distorting facts, confusing public'

A speech by Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday spread the "two states" theory that defines cross-Straits ties as a state-to-state relationship, which was "deceiving people on the island by distorting facts and confusing the public", said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Her speech exposed that the nature of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan is seeking independence and that it relies on foreign countries to do so, Ma said on Tuesday.

Tsai said in a pre-Spring Festival speech that Taiwan's relations with the United States have remained solid despite the change in US administrations last month and her team will be working with the new administration to enhance exchanges.

Tsai said the key to maintaining peace across the Taiwan Straits lies in the hands of the Chinese mainland, referring to the mainland's deployment of military aircraft in the Straits.

From 2008 to 2016, under Tsai's predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, better relations between the mainland and Taiwan were achieved as the two sides adhered to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, creating peaceful development across the Straits.

During the period, compatriots on both sides shared a peaceful and stable environment, as well as the achievements of cooperative development, the spokesman said.

The current grim situation of cross-Straits relations has been entirely caused by the DPP authorities, who came to power in 2016 and refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus reached by the two sides, he said.

They have been obstructing cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation and colluding with foreign forces to seek "independence", which created tension and confrontation across the Straits and seriously damaged the vital interests of compatriots on both sides, he added.

The spokesman urged DPP authorities to give up their position on "Taiwan independence", stop their activities for "independence "and return to the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus.