Top adviser sets out mainland stance after island's new leader takes office

Top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng restated the mainland's stance on Taiwan affairs on Sunday to firmly uphold the 1992 Consensus and oppose "Taiwan independence".

Adhering to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, which states that both the mainland and Taiwan are parts of one China, cross-Straits relations will enjoy a prosperous future, he said, adding that the key for peaceful development is to uphold the consensus and strongly stand against secessionist activities.

Yu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the eighth Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian province. He also urged people from both sides of the Straits to continue to deepen their communication.

"The more complicated cross-Straits ties become, the more we need to deepen people-to-people exchanges," he said.

The stance was outlined by the highest-ranking leader on the mainland after Taiwan's newly elected leader, Tsai Ing-wen, took office on May 20, said Zhu Songling, director of Beijing Union University's Institute of Cross-Straits Relations.

Tsai has not yet explicitly endorsed the 1992 Consensus. However, most Taiwan residents support peaceful development between both sides of the Straits, said Jason Hu, vice-chairman of the Kuomintang.

"There have been ups and downs in past decades, … sunny days and rainy days," Hu said of cross-Straits relations, adding that people from both sides want peace. "The achievements we've seen in the past have not been easy tasks."