Denial of 1992 Consensus makes cross-Strait dialogue, consultation impossible: spokeswoman

Denial of the 1992 Consensus makes cross-Strait dialogue and consultation impossible, said Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, on Wednesday in response to recent remarks by Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region.

Zhu made the statement at a press briefing held in Beijing, saying Lai's remarks were a blatant attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" and make provocations, which exposed again his true color as a saboteur of cross-Strait peace.

"No matter what Lai Ching-te says and does, he will never change the historical and legal fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The root cause of the tension in the cross-Strait relations lies in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' refusal to recognize the 1992 Consensus, unilaterally destroys the common political foundation for cross-Strait dialogue and consultation, and seek 'independence' and make provocations in collusion with external forces. As we have stressed times and again that cross-Strait dialogue and consultation are possible as long as the 1992 Consensus is upheld and the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China is recognized. Denying 1992 Consensus, deviating from the one-China principle, or seeking 'Taiwan independence' will make those impossible. The so-call 'equal dignity' claimed by the DPP authorities is an attempt to change the historical and legal fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and their attempt to conduct cross-Strait dialogue and communication on the basis of 'two states' theory is a conspiracy and is doomed to fail," said Zhu.

Denial of 1992 Consensus makes cross-Strait dialogue, consultation impossible: spokeswoman

Demonstrators rallied across U.S. cities over the weekend to denounce the military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of the country.

The Venezuelan government said the military strikes targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

The U.S. military intervention has since drawn widespread criticism, sparking protests at home.

Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Sunday, where Maduro is being held, calling the U.S. government actions outrageous and a violation of international law.

Others gathered in the Times Square on Saturday following the capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, saying the actions are not only illegal but also showed no respect.

"I mean, you don't just step in and take over another country. We have absolutely no right to do that. We have so much trouble in our country right here," said a protester named Sartre.

"It just defies not only human respectability in life but common sense," said another protester.

Additionally, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House, holding banners with slogans reading "Hands off Venezuela" and "Stop bombing Venezuela now."

Demonstrators rally in US cities over military action in Venezuela