Chinese mainland and Taiwan are not 'neighbors': spokesman

An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, addresses a regular press conference on Sept. 13, 2017. (Photo/CGTN)

The relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan is neither a relationship between countries nor neighbors, a Chinese mainland spokesman said at a regular press conference on Wednesday.

An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a controversial comment by Stanley Kao, Taiwan's representative to the United States. Kao referred to the Chinese mainland as Taiwan's "neighbor" during a recent interview with an American media outlet.

"The cross-Strait relationship is absolutely not a relationship between countries," An stressed. "Of course it is not a relationship between neighbors, either."

The 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly opened at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Taiwan authorities recently said they would express the island's appeal to participate in UN-related organizations through various means, including sending letters to international media outlets.

An said any attempt to challenge the one-China principle would fail, noting that the principle is honored across the international community. The UN is an organization formed by sovereign states, he added.

"There is only one China in the world, and both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China," he emphasized.

Commenting on a so-called "Mainland Military Power Report" released by Taiwan authorities, An said the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the fundamental guarantee of peace and stability of the two sides.

The biggest obstacle to peace and stability across the Strait is "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their activities, he said.

An urged Taiwan authorities to adhere to the 1992 Consensus, which is the political foundation for cross-Strait relations.