A Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that the Taiwan authorities' ban on two mainland news organizations from reporting on the island, announced on Sunday, was "inappropriate" and had "severely affected" cross-Straits media exchange.

"The arbitrary interference in the normal work of Xinhua News Agency and People's Daily has harmed the legitimate rights and interests of the mainland press, causing widespread discontent in journalistic circles on both sides of the Straits," said Li Weiyi.

Li said that the mainland would continue with its efforts to promote and expand healthy journalistic exchanges across the Straits, urging the Taiwan authorities to "remove unreasonable obstacles" as soon as possible.

Li also denied speculation that the newly adopted Anti-Secession Law, which aims at preventing Taiwan's secession, would be revised.

"The contents of the legislation to oppose and check 'Taiwan independence,' uphold peace and stability across the Straits, develop relations and promote peaceful reunification are explicit and integral. We are not considering enacting accessory laws or regulations," said Li.

On Taiwan medical experts' participation in the WHO, Li said that the central government wishes to make special arrangements for their involvement in "technical activities."

"Before reaching a consensus, we want to confer with the WHO secretariat. But we firmly oppose the Taiwan authorities promoting secession efforts with this issue," he said.  

Li said the mainland is willing to negotiate with any of Taiwan's political parties, as long as they uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.

He said the island's authorities' failure to do so had meant negotiations between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and its Taiwan counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation, had been unable to resume.

The mainland is willing to negotiate and exchange views on the "three direct links" and other issues, said Li, with any Taiwan parties and organizations that acknowledge the 1992 Consensus and do not promote secession.

Li said the mainland would also welcome a visit by the person in charge of the Democratic Progressive Party, as long as the party gave up its secessionist position and ceased pro-separation activities.

Li condemned the "seven conclusions" made recently by Taiwan authorities, which aim to restrain cross-Straits trade and cultural exchanges and suspend some ongoing cooperation.

"It is an act of turning back the clock. It has been widely denounced by the island's public as it is against their basic interests," said Li.

He stressed that it is a common demand of both sides to further exchanges and economic cooperation, which conforms to the general trend of development.

Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, set forth a four-point guideline on cross-Straits relations on March 4 this year. Li said mainland departments are working to map out policies to solve problems that Taiwan compatriots are concerned with and safeguard their proper rights and interests according to Hu's guideline.

He spoke highly of the recent visit by the Kuomintang (KMT) delegation led by its vice chairman Chiang Pin-kung, saying it has promoted exchange and cooperation and contributed to peaceful and stable development.

"Relevant departments are examining the results of talks with the KMT delegation, and detailed measures will be announced in the near future," said Li.

According to Li, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the mainland-based Straits Aviation Exchange Commission Pu Zhaozhou sent two messages to the head of the Taipei Aviation Transportation Association on March 11 and April 6.

Pu expressed hope that the two bodies would begin a new round of exchanges as early as possible, to discuss direct chartered cross-Straits flights during festivals and holidays, or their running on a regular basis.

"Regrettably, so far we haven't received any response from the Taiwan side," said Li.

Asked to comment on the judicial investigation filed against Chiang following his return to Taiwan, Li said such action was taken out of "ideological considerations" regardless of the public opinion in Taiwan, and was against both the development of cross-Straits exchange and the vital interests of the Taiwan people.

"I don't think this incident will affect planned visits to the mainland by KMT Chairman Lien Chan and People First Party Chairman James Soong," said Li.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2005)