BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday cautioned personnel from the United States against sowing discord between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, calling it "irresponsible."
Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a news conference when responding to reports of comments by a White House National Security Council spokesman that the United States "rejects the threat or use of force to compel the people of Taiwan" and urges the mainland to stop its "coercion."
Some Americans are turning a blind eye to the words and actions of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority that undermined the political foundation of cross-Strait ties and aggravated hostility between Taiwan and the mainland, and are repeatedly sending wrong messages, which will only undermine cross-Strait peace and stability, Ma said.
The Taiwan question is China's internal affairs and concerns China's core interests and the national bond of the Chinese people, Ma said, stressing that the Chinese people's affairs should be decided by the Chinese people and allows no external interference.
While pledging utmost sincerity and greatest efforts for the prospect of peaceful reunification, the mainland vows zero tolerance towards "Taiwan independence" and reserves the option of taking all necessary means, he said. "The so-called 'threat or use of force to compel the people of Taiwan,' or 'coercion,' doesn't exist."
Asked to comment on remarks by Taiwan's authority that the island hoped to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Ma said adhering to the one-China principle was the prerequisite for Taiwan to participate in any regional economic cooperation.
"We resolutely oppose the signing of any agreement, which carries meaning or implications of sovereignty or is intended to be between governments in nature, between any country with which we have diplomatic relations and Taiwan," Ma said.
