Mainland warns of attempts to hamper cross-Straits ties

BEIJING - A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday called on people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to guard against attempts to disrupt cross-Straits negotiations and the peaceful development of ties.

Compatriots from both sides should be "on high alert against any 'Taiwan independence' advocacy, including the 'special state-to-state' and 'one country on each side' theories, under the pretext of supervision," said Fan Liqing of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office at a press conference.

Fan made the remarks when asked to comment on different draft versions of supervision rules for the signing of cross-Straits agreements being deliberated by Taiwan's legislative body.

The mainland has noticed that some versions described the nature of the cross-Straits relationship as a "state-to-state" one or "one country on each side," she said.

"The mainland and Taiwan belong to one China and the cross-Straits relationship is not a state-to-state relationship," Fan said.

The mainland firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" and the "special state-to-state" theory in any form, Fan said.

She called on compatriots from both sides to cherish the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and not to let "Taiwan independence" forces disturb or destroy it.