Mainland warns it will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence'

The Chinese mainland will never tolerate "Taiwan independence" as that threatens peace in the Taiwan Strait and the interests of Taiwan compatriots and will resolutely counteract it, a senior mainland official said on Wednesday.

Song Tao, who heads both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace and development.

He made the remarks at a cross-Strait exchange activity that opened on Wednesday in Shenyang, capital of Northeast China's Liaoning province, with 300 people from both sides attending it to seek business cooperation.

Song said that only by upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" can cross-Strait relations return to the right track, exchanges and cooperation proceed smoothly, and the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots be safeguarded.

He urged Taiwan compatriots to grasp the overall trend of history, draw a clear line with the separatists, actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and share in the glory of national rejuvenation.

Lien Sheng-wen, vice-chair of the Chinese Kuomintang party, said that compatriots on both sides of the Strait belong to the Chinese nation and are one family.

The KMT will continue to promote various exchanges and cooperation across the Strait based on the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and opposition to "Taiwan independence", he said.

Lien was born in 1970 and is the eldest son of former KMT chairman Lien Chan. His mother was born in Shenyang in 1910.

As an offspring of Shenyang, Lien said he will carry forward the profound sentiments of his elders toward the land and contribute to the future development of Liaoning.

Li Lecheng, governor of Liaoning, said that the province attaches great importance to cooperation with Taiwan, providing dedicated services to Taiwan compatriots and businesses, and promoting closer exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, with sustained growth in trade and investment.

In the future, Liaoning will spare no effort to create a better environment for Taiwan business people to invest in Liaoning with peace of mind, develop smoothly, and live comfortably, he said.

Wang Song contributed to the story.