Taiwan's new leader 'must clarify stance'

Meanwhile, the island's "economics minister", Lee Chih-kung, said on Wednesday that Taiwan's new government has no schedule for restarting trade talks with the mainland. He added that the pro-independence ruling party first wanted to pass a law governing oversight of negotiations with Beijing.

Beijing has already condemned the Democratic Progressive Party's proposed "supervisory law", and critics in Taiwan said it could paralyze relations with the mainland.

The bill requires government officials to get legislative consent before, during and after any talks with Beijing. They cannot sign any agreements with the mainland before all three stages of legislative approval are completed.

"The cross-Straits supervisory bill is still in parliament," Lee said. "Trade talks need the oversight, so to hold trade talks would be of no use."

Ma said directors of the departments of cross-Straits affairs on both sides have had five meetings since 2014, and interactions have included establishing a hotline.

"The intensive communication between the two sides has handled many sensitive problems and avoided misunderstandings," said Ma. "The exchanges have built mutual trust and made the impossible possible."

"All accomplishments in the past few years are based on the 1992 Consensus," he added.

The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits issued a statement after the new leader took office, saying that the association's determination to improve cross-Straits relations wouldn't change.

Xinhua and Reuters contributed to this story.

pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn