Death of Taiwan politician mourned

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman expressed condolences on Wednesday over the death of a Taiwan politician who was committed to promoting cross-Straits exchanges.

Pang Chien-kuo, a former Kuomintang legislator, was found dead outside his apartment in Taipei, Taiwan, on Tuesday. It was suspected he committed suicide by jumping to his death after posting the message "I would rather die than live in this unjust Taiwan" in a chat group on social media a few hours earlier.

When Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT came to power in 2008, Pang became the deputy secretary-general of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, a semiofficial organization that handles daily affairs with the mainland.

He was also once a member of the New Party and the People First Party on the island and taught at Chinese Culture University in Taipei.

He contributed to exchanges across the Straits and publicly called for peaceful reunification of the two sides. The 68-year-old had been diagnosed with cancer.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said, "We deeply regret the tragic death of Pang."

Zhu said that Pang, who adhered to the one-China principle, had been committed to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and actively promoted exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

He had always fought against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, which was admirable, she added.

Before his death, Pang condemned the "unjust Taiwan "under the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party administration, Zhu said, adding that his protest in such a tragic way was worth pondering for Taiwan compatriots.

"Indeed, the island is in a dark period due to the DPP's manipulation, but the time and tide for cross-Straits relations have been on the side of advocating peaceful reunification, and there is no reason to be pessimistic," she said.

Condemning the DPP authorities' moves for "independence", Zhu said they have been playing little tricks for political gain, which has aroused widespread dissatisfaction and criticism from Taiwan society.

She called on political parties, organizations and compatriots on the island to remain on high alert and not let a small number of politicians on the island push Taiwan into danger.