Mainland warns island over moves to amend 'constitution'

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman says DPP authorities to blame for tensions

The Chinese mainland will take countermeasures if Taiwan authorities endanger cross-Straits peace and stability by seeking independence through so-called constitutional change, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.

The island's legislative authority said it will start the process of amending the "constitution", including proposals to delete "national unity" and change expressions about "territory" and the "national name".

Ma said, "We are following these developments closely and firmly oppose any attempt by Taiwan to seek independence by making so-called constitutional changes, including providing convenience for secessionists."

"Taiwan independence" separatist activities have seriously undermined the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and harmed the common interests of compatriots on both sides, he said, adding that all necessary measures will be taken to counter such acts.

The island held a number of military exercises in the Bashi Channel and around the Dongsha Islands and Taiping Island in the South China Sea on Monday and Tuesday and more drills will be conducted next month.

The spokesman said the current complex and grim cross-Straits relations stemmed from the actions of the island's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, who didn't correct its mistakes but attempted to escalate confrontation, which was neither wise nor within its capabilities.

The new head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chiu Tai-san, took up his post on Tuesday, saying he would work to restore communication with the mainland and was looking forward to a future "spring blossom" across the Straits.

In response, Ma said, "There used to be a period of 'spring blossom' in cross-Straits relations, and it was destroyed by the DPP administration."

Over the past four years, the DPP authorities and "Taiwan independence" forces had unilaterally overturned the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.

The consensus reached by the two sides is the key to realizing the "spring blossom", Ma said, adding that, "If they have such an expectation, they should return to the political basis of the 1992 Consensus."

Ma questioned the real intention of the DPP administration by quoting a recent case in which Lee Duujong, a professor of chemical engineering at National Taiwan University, was fined NT$300,000($10,800) by island authorities for leading a research program sponsored by the mainland.

"Whether or not to accept the 1992 Consensus bears on the fundamental nature of cross-Straits relations and is a good test of the so-called goodwill of the island authorities," he said.