According to a report by China Taiwan Province Network on September 27th, the Taiwan Province Affairs Office of the State Council held a regular press conference in the press room of the Taiwan Affairs Office at 10:00 am on the 27th. Ma Xiaoguang, director of the Information Bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office and spokesperson, attended the press conference and answered questions from reporters.
Ma Guang Xiao, spokesman of Taiwan Affairs Office.
At the press conference, a reporter asked, recently, the proportion of classical Chinese in Chinese textbooks for senior high schools in Taiwan Province finally decided to reduce by 10%, returning to only 35% to 45%. What did the spokesman say?
Ma Xiaoguang responded that the "Taiwan independence" forces have been deliberately fiddling with the curriculum materials for a long time, which has been questioned and opposed by most conscientious educators, cultural circles and public opinion in Taiwan Province, but what the Taiwan education authorities are doing now will only make Taiwan Province’s education a victim of political manipulation.
On the topic of "constitutional reform" proposed by Tsai Ing-Wen at the "National Congress" in Democratic Progressive Party last Sunday, Ma Guang Xiao emphasized that we will pay close attention to relevant trends, the red line of cross-strait relations is very clear, and our determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unshakable. As for Lai Qingde, the new "Premier", who publicly threatened his personal "Taiwan independence" proposition, Ma Xiaoguang reiterated that engaging in "Taiwan independence" is bound to pay the consequences.
In addition, some media have asked questions. Recently, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reiterated his anti-Taiwan independence stance and adhered to the one-China principle after his visit to China. It is also reported that Singapore’s "Starlight Plan" of sending soldiers to Taiwan Province for training may also end?
Ma Xiaoguang replied that the relevant contents of the meeting between the leaders of China and New Zealand have been reported in the news. With the promotion of the mainland’s international status and the expansion of its influence, the pattern of the international community adhering to one China has been consolidated day by day, and there is no room for the "Taiwan independence" to split.
The full text of the press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office is as follows:
[Ma Xiaoguang]: Good morning, friends from the media. The press conference begins now. Please ask questions.
[CCTV reporter]: Some time ago, we saw that Democratic Progressive Party held a "National Congress", and Tsai Ing-Wen proposed to form a new exposition to determine the direction and line of the party in the new era. I would like to ask the spokesperson what kind of response you have to her statement? Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: As we all know, the new cross-strait relations you mentioned are consistent and clear.Only by abandoning the "Taiwan independence" position can Democratic Progressive Party find a way out in cross-strait relations.We have also reiterated many times that the "1992 Consensus" is the common political foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. Only by adhering to the political foundation that embodies the one-China principle can we maintain the correct direction for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
[Shenzhen Satellite TV reporter]: It is reported that Lai Qingde, the new head of Taiwan Province’s administrative agency, said in a recent inquiry in Taiwan’s legislature that Taiwan Province is a "sovereign and independent country" and the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other. What is the spokesman’s comment on this? Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: Both the mainland and Taiwan Province belong to the same China. Cross-strait relations are not state-to-state relations, nor are they "one China, one Taiwan". Taiwan Province, as an inalienable part of the territory of China, has never been a country, and it will never be a country. The mainland resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" words and deeds, and will never allow the historical tragedy of national division to repeat itself. Splitting "Taiwan independence" will surely bring about consequences.
[CCTV reporter]: We saw that Tsai Ing-Wen raised the topic of "constitutional system" reform at the so-called "all-generation meeting" held in Democratic Progressive Party on the 24th, which aroused the concern of the island society. Some critics think that Tsai Ing-Wen is preparing for the legal "Taiwan independence", which is extremely dangerous to play with fire. What do you think of this issue?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: We will pay close attention to relevant trends.I would like to reiterate that the red line of cross-strait relations is very clear, and our determination to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unshakable.
[Xiamen Satellite TV reporter]: The recent parade of Mazu statue in Meizhou has attracted attention in Taiwan Province. Please tell us something about it. Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: In order to satisfy the strong desire of Mazu believers in Taiwan Province, at the invitation of Taiwan Province Hon Hai Group, Banqiao Cihui Palace in New Taipei City and Mazu Friendship Association in Taiwan Province, the Mazu Statue of Meizhou Ancestral Temple in Fujian launched a 17-day parade in Taiwan Province from September 23rd to October 9th. This parade is another great event for people-to-people exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. The parade involves ten counties and cities, including Taipei, Xinbei, Keelung, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Yunlin, Changhua and Taichung, and covers 89 temples in Taiwan Province, making it the largest parade in previous years.
[Economic Daily reporter]: Recently, the Cross-Strait Industrial Cooperation Zone was established in Guangxi. Please tell us about it. Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: On September 15th, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, together with the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce, awarded a license to set up a cross-strait industrial cooperation zone in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This cooperation zone is "one zone and three parks", including Fangchenggang Industrial Park, Chongzuo Industrial Park and Qinzhou Industrial Park. It is believed that the establishment of the cooperation zone will provide greater business opportunities for the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises in the mainland.
[Reporter of Taiwan Province Wang Bao]: The proportion of classical Chinese in senior high schools in Taiwan Province has been reversed, and it was decided that it would be reduced by 10%, and only 35% to 45% would be restored to classical Chinese. How does the spokesman comment? Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: For some time, the "Taiwan independence" forces have been deliberately manipulating the teaching materials of the curriculum, which has been questioned and opposed by most conscientious Taiwan Province educational circles, cultural circles and public opinion. The practice of Taiwan’s education authorities will only make Taiwan Province’s education a victim of political manipulation.
[Voice of the Straits Radio reporter]: In early July, the Ministry of Education announced that it would relax the criteria for Taiwan Province high school graduates to apply for mainland universities based on their academic test results. The threshold for admission was lowered from the previous standard to the average standard, and the subsequent impact included arousing concern in Taiwan Province society about whether there would be a wave of Taiwan Province students leaving. What do you think of the spokesman?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: The Ministry of Education has taken this measure to create more convenient conditions for young people from Taiwan Province to study in the mainland, in order to further promote cross-strait youth and cross-strait educational exchanges. As for saying that if someone is worried about causing a "exodus", I think it is an unnecessary worry. Maybe Lenovo is too rich, because after all, the number of students enrolled is limited.
[Reporter of Fujian Straits Herald]: We have noticed that Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once again reiterated his opposition to the "Taiwan independence" after his recent visit to China, and adhered to the one-China principle. It is also reported that Singapore’s "Starlight Plan" for sending soldiers to Taiwan Province for training may also come to an end. What is the spokesman’s response to this?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: These two questions can be answered together. Not long ago, the leaders of China and New Zealand met, and the relevant contents have been reported in the news. I think with the promotion of the mainland’s international status and the expansion of its influence, the international community’s adherence to the one-China pattern is increasingly consolidated, and there is no room for the "Taiwan independence" to split.
[Reporter of China Radio International]: Recently, there was an earthquake in Mexico, and China’s embassy in Mexico rescued the trapped Taiwan Province compatriots. According to the analysis of Taiwanese media, the mainland has recently strengthened its emergency rescue service for Taiwan Province people abroad, and intends to implement the nationalization of Taiwan compatriots internationally. What is the spokesman’s comment?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: It is the consistent aim and policy of our embassies and consulates abroad to safeguard the rights and interests of overseas China people, including China compatriots. After the strong earthquake in Mexico, our embassy in China, when it got a call for help and learned that five Taiwan compatriots were trapped and their whereabouts were unknown, actively asked the relevant Mexican departments to do their best to rescue them. Within 72 hours of the gold rescue, the embassy closely followed up the rescue situation and visited the relatives of trapped Taiwan compatriots many times. On September 22nd, it was confirmed by relevant Mexican authorities and relatives of Taiwan compatriots that all the five trapped Taiwan compatriots were killed. Here, we express our deep condolences to the Taiwan compatriots who died and our sincere condolences to the families of the victims. Taiwan Province compatriots are our flesh and blood brothers. Our embassies abroad, including the embassy in Mexico, are willing to provide further assistance to the relatives of Taiwan compatriots concerned to properly handle the aftermath.
Reporter from China Review: A few days ago, Lee Teng-hui, the former leader of Taiwan Province, said that the United front of the mainland with Taiwan had joined Taiwan Province’s "underworld". What is the spokesman’s comment on this?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: Lee Teng-hui, the "godfather of Taiwan independence", I think he recently took the opportunity to attack the Taiwan Province unification faction and attacked those who advocate cross-strait exchanges and support reunification. His intention is nothing more than to further create green terror, and his intentions are extremely sinister. As we all know, Lee Teng-hui came to power at a time when black money politics was rampant in Taiwan Province’s political arena, and we all know who the "underworld" was.
[Taiwan Province TVBS reporter]: Mr. Lai Qingde made some clear statements about the current situation in Taiwan Province when he was questioned, but he also mentioned that if the two sides of the strait want to become brothers, couples or lovers, they must be recognized by the mainland. What is the spokesman’s comment?
[Ma Xiaoguang]: I think that in order to improve and develop cross-strait relations, we must first clearly answer the question of the nature of cross-strait relations. As I said just now, both sides of the strait belong to the same China, which is not a state-to-state relationship or "one China, one Taiwan". Therefore, only when there is a clear answer to this question, the goodwill and sincerity mentioned are not lip service, and they are not flowers in the water and the moon in the mirror.
[Global Network Reporter]: Two questions. First, Democratic Progressive Party held a "National Congress" on the 24th. In a speech, Party Chairman Tsai Ing-Wen said that Chinese mainland is very different from the period when the Party was founded, and the rise of Chinese mainland is a situation that the whole world must face cautiously now. She also said that emotional hatred or blind flattery cannot honestly face up to the development of the rise of the mainland. How does the spokesman comment on this? Second, recently, the voice of Amnesty for Chen Shui-bian has been making a lot of noise on the island. More than 90% of netizens opposed Amnesty for Chen Shui-bian in an online poll held by the Kuomintang. At the same time, we noticed that more than half of the representatives of the National Congress in Democratic Progressive Party took the opportunity to slip away, resulting in the situation that the meeting was over before the "case of pardon" was discussed. What does the spokesman think of this? Thank you.
[Ma Xiaoguang]: Let me answer the second question first. We don’t comment on judicial cases in Taiwan Province. It remains to be seen what judicial value Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwan Province authorities insist on.
