China News Agency, Beijing, December 21st, title: Moving forward in the changing situation

　　China News Agency reporter Lu Mei

　　"Complex and severe" has been the key word for the mainland to judge the situation in the Taiwan Strait for four consecutive years, and 2020 is no exception.

This year, cross-strait relations have witnessed constant twists and turns, but people-to-people exchanges are still enthusiastic, and support for peaceful coexistence, exchanges and interaction is still the mainstream public opinion on both sides of the strait.

Cross-strait relations sink into a trough

　　At the end of last year and early this year, the DPP retained power in elections, and various measures to hinder cross-strait exchanges continued.

During the same period, the United States considered the mainland as its main strategic competitor to conduct comprehensive containment and tolerated various provocative words and deeds of "Taiwan independence" by the DPP authorities, which made the situation in the Taiwan Strait worse.

　　At a cross-strait think tank academic forum held at the end of the year, most scholars believed that maintaining the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait and promoting cross-strait integration are still the main axis of the mainland's Taiwan policy now and in the future, and the dominant power in the development of cross-strait relations is firmly in the hands of the mainland.

The spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has also made it clear recently that with the greatest sincerity and best efforts, we will strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification of the two sides of the strait.

Anti-independence is the primary task of maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait

　　There are many important time points for cross-strait relations in 2020, including the 15th anniversary of the implementation of the Anti-Secession Law, the 5th anniversary of the historic meeting between leaders of the two sides, and the 75th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. The mainland has held heavyweight seminars. It not only issued a solemn warning to the separatist forces for "Taiwan independence" and emphasized the key position and role of the "1992 Consensus" as the political basis for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, it also encouraged compatriots on both sides of the strait to unite and oppose "Taiwan independence" and jointly promote the reunification of the motherland.

　　"The possibility of the peaceful reunification of the two sides of the strait has not disappeared, and we are still very confident about this. The first task of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait is to combat and contain the'Taiwan independence' separatist activities." Zhou Zhi, Director of the Academic Committee of the Center for Taiwan and East Asian Studies, Central China Normal University Huai pointed out to a reporter from China News Agency that if the mainland formulated a list of "Taiwan independence" diehards, it was also aimed at precisely cracking down on "Taiwan independence" forces on and off the island and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the vital interests of compatriots on both sides of the strait.

The foundation and driving force for the development of cross-strait relations lies in the people

　　It can be seen from outside that despite the new crown pneumonia epidemic and political obstruction on the island, non-governmental exchanges between the two sides of the strait have not actually been interrupted.

Compatriots work together to fight the epidemic and overcome difficulties together; Taiwanese artists continue to perform on the mainland and gain the love of audiences; exchange activities in many fields such as economy and trade, technology, education, and art continue to develop, presenting the new characteristics of cloud and offline integration and simultaneous participation in different places.

　　Sun Yafu, vice chairman of the Association for Cross-Strait Relations, told China News Agency that non-governmental exchanges are a very vivid aspect of cross-strait relations.

When the situation in the Taiwan Strait is tense, exchanges and cooperation between compatriots on both sides of the strait are necessary and important.

In the future, we must continue to maintain a loving and friendly attitude and unite with Taiwan compatriots.

　　After 40 years of exchanges, cross-strait economic, cultural, and social connections have become closer.

Recently, a poll in Taiwan showed that 94% of the people interviewed hoped for peaceful coexistence between the two sides of the strait, and more than 80% of the people approve of cross-strait exchanges.

"People on both sides of the strait have a strong demand for exchanges and a strong willingness." Li Peng, Dean of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, pointed out in an interview with China News Agency. Cross-Strait exchanges gradually recovered and resolved.

Integrated development will push cross-strait relations to a new stage

　　The proposal on the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the long-term goals adopted by the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed "promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the reunification of the motherland."

Sun Yafu believes that this proposal includes a basis, that is, adherence to the one-China principle; a condition, that is, vigilance and opposition to any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist conspiracy; in addition, it is all about cross-strait exchanges, cooperation, and integration and development.

The integration and development of the two sides of the strait will make the conditions for reunification more and more sufficient.

　　Based on research and judgment on Sino-US relations and Taiwan’s political situation, Sun Yafu pointed out that the situation in the Taiwan Strait will remain tense, but the mainland will continue to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations in accordance with the deployment of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee.

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