Hotline goes live across Straits

A hotline between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan was officially put into operation on Wednesday as chiefs of cross-Straits affairs from both sides affirmed the achievements made in promoting cross-Straits ties under the 1992 Consensus in their first conversation on the line, said a mainland spokesperson. Ma Xiaoguang, with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a Wednesday press conference that both sides have been further implementing the 1992 Consensus after a meeting between Mr Xi Jinping and Mr Ma Ying-jeou last month. Many achievements have been made in this regard, according to the conversation between the office's director, Zhang Zhijun, and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, Andrew Hsia. The mainland and Taiwan agreed to set up a hotline between the chiefs of cross-Strait affairs from both sides during the historic Xi-Ma meeting in Singapore on November 7. Zhang and Hsia also exchanged New Year greetings during the conversation, Ma said, adding that the hotline will facilitate communication on important cross-Straits issues to enhance mutual understanding and trust and maintain a common basis and correct direction for the development of ties. "The hotline will guarantee a direct communication between the two chiefs and will better get their message across while avoiding misjudgment," Hu Benliang, an expert on Taiwan studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Business warned Ma maintained the mainland's support and encouragement to cross-Straits communication and cooperation in various fields for mutual benefits, but also reiterated that the mainland will never tolerate "a small number of people who make money on the mainland with one hand and support separatist activities to undermine cross-Straits relations with the other." The mainland announced new measures to ease restrictions on Taiwan investment. From January 1, 2016, 24 sectors, including advertising, packaging, and clothing, will be open to individually owned businesses from the Taiwan island. The mainland has been welcoming businesses from Taiwan in recent years as it tried to warm up the cross-Straits ties via all-channel communication, Hu said. "Taiwan businessmen have been growing reliant on the mainland market which offers many opportunities and losing this big market will incur great losses," Hu noted. Hu added that Ma's remark may also serve as a warning to all as the island's regional election draws near. "Businesses should be aware that severed cross-Straits ties will also jeopardize their own interests in the mainland." According to the Taipei-based Want Daily, a delegation of ruling Kuomingtang (KMT) party members and supporters recently called for Taiwan businessmen in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province to vote for the KMT and some 700 Taiwan businessmen reportedly voiced their support. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is widely believed likely to be the victor in the upcoming election. At the Wednesday conference, Ma also noted that adhering to the 1992 Consensus is the common political ground for the mainland and Taiwan. This has brought about peaceful and stable relations across the Straits as well as substantial benefits for people on both sides. Ma also stressed that the core of the 1992 Consensus is "one China" principle and their relations are not "country-to-country."