2016年CRI Chinese mainland to try best for peaceful cross-Straits reunification: spokesperson（在线收听）

An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, stressed the mainland's clear and consistent stance on firmly upholding the one-China principle, as well as opposing secessionist activities in Taiwan.

"Our position on safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is resolute. We do not tolerate any separatist activities that separate the island from China in whatever form or name. The peaceful development of the cross-Straits relationship is the biggest guarantee for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. Separatists and their activities in Taiwan constitute the biggest threat to the peace and stability across the Straits. Any attempt to resist reunification with military power is doomed to fail," said An Fengshan.

He said that only by recognizing the 1992 Consensus can the two sides of the Straits have a common political basis for their relationship.

"The 'core content' of the 1992 Consensus recognizes both sides of the Taiwan Straits as belonging to one and the same China. The importance of the 1992 Consensus is that it clearly defines the nature of the cross-Straits relationship, indicating that such relations are not 'state-to-state.' No statement whatsoever can deviate from the "core content" that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same China. This core content cannot be changed," said An Fengshan.

The spokesperson also expressed resolute opposition on military exchanges between the region and the United States.

"The Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is also the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-U.S. relationship. We resolutely oppose any form of formal exchanges or military interaction between the US and Taiwan and the arms sales from the US to Taiwan," said An Fengshan.

An made the statement after the U.S. Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 earlier this month.

Its clauses include a provision on military cooperation with Taiwan for the first time, featuring exchanges of senior military officials as well as justification for arms sales to the region.

An Fengshan said he hoped the U.S. side would abide by the one-China policy and the 3 China-U.S. joint communiqués while carefully handling the issue.