Mainland spokesman says both sides of the Straits 'belong to one China'

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, strongly condemned on Wednesday the separatist acts of the Democratic Progressive Party－the ruling party of the island－in the field of education.

Newly compiled history textbooks, embodied with the separatist idea of "Taiwan independence", have been used during the new high school semester in Taiwan.

The textbook states that the status of Taiwan is still undecided, aiming to reserve legal space for independence.

"It will harm the younger generation in Taiwan and further intensify cross-Straits confrontation. Both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, and the compatriots on both sides belong to the Chinese nation," Ma said.

"No one can deprive our compatriots in Taiwan of the right to be Chinese. No act of the DPP can sever the historical link between the two sides, nor can it change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China," he said.

The island authority has also urged Taiwan residents not to travel to the mainland to attend National Day celebration events in October and said government and military personnel will be punished if they attend those activities.

In response, Ma said the DPP and "Taiwan independence" forces have been inciting cross-Straits confrontations and sparing no effort to crack down on parties, groups and people with different stances.

They intimidated and punished people who participated in cross-Straits exchanges on trumped-up charges, he said, adding that it is impossible not to affect cross-Straits exchanges.

In August, the mainland film regulator suspended participation of mainland movies and personnel in the 56th Golden Horse Film Festival in November in Taipei, a major film festival honoring the Chinese-speaking region.

Last year's festival ceremony was overshadowed by "Taiwan independence" remarks, triggering discontent from mainland participants and evoking anger from the mainland public, especially among netizens.

Trips to the island by individual tourists from the mainland have been suspended since the beginning of August.

"The DPP and 'Taiwan independence' forces are to blame," Ma said, adding that cooperation and exchanges are the common will of compatriots on both sides and no one can stand in the way.

In July, about 1,000 young people from the two sides joined a basketball event in Taipei.

In August, about 600 people joined a cross-Straits baseball event in Taichung.