Official blames Taiwan for mechanism breakdown

A Taiwan Affairs official said Thursday the island is largely to blame for the suspension of the communication mechanism between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, chinanews.com reported.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office (SCTAO), said the communication mechanism between the SCTAO and Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council as well as the consultation and negotiations mechanism between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation have been suspended, which have affected relations across the Taiwan Straits.

Zhang made the remarks during an interview with the media in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province.

"At present, it is impossible for the two sides to communicate, negotiate or reach any agreement on any issue, which is causing inconvenience with regard to sensitive topics," said Zhang, adding "the Chinese mainland is blameless for the breakdown of the communication mechanism," Zhang noted.

The Chinese mainland's policy toward Taiwan will not change with a change in its administration, said Zhang, stressing that Taiwan's administration has failed to recognize the 1992 Consensus or to identify with the one-China principle.

However, economic cooperation across the Straits continues, Zhang said, adding he hopes cultural and personnel exchanges will be expanded despite the current political situation.