Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Saturday that unofficial communication channels with China are very much intact despite Beijing suspending official communication channels with the island nation earlier this year, Reuters reported.

"While the official mechanism of communication has not been restored, unofficial communication channels with the mainland remain available," Tsai told reporters. "We hope both sides maintain stability, so there won't be any misunderstanding or misjudgment on either side."      

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The Chinese government suspended its official communication channels with Taiwan in June after President Tsai failed to acknowledge the "One China" principle. Tsai apparently made her stance clear on the contentious issue after she conspicuously omitted any mention of the "One China" principle in her inaugural speech.

According to the "One China," China and Taiwan are one nation. However, Tsai and her pro-independent the Democratic Progressive Party fiercely oppose this principle, claiming that it impinges on Taiwan's sovereignty.     

China has been on a diplomatic offensive against the island nation ever since Tsai won a landslide victory in Taiwan's presidential election in January. Tsai's staunch pro-independent views have made her immensely unpopular in China. Chinese leaders have repeatedly issued warnings to Taiwan's new government not to stroke any freedom and insurgent movement against China.      

China considers Taiwan as a breakaway region that is waiting for unification with the mainland. Taiwan separated from China in 1949 following a prolonged civil war. Since the bitter separation, ties between the two countries has been marked by hostility and suspicion.

TagsTaiwan, china, Tsai Ing-wen, Cross-Strait Relations