By Stacy Hsu / Staff reporterThe Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday called for rationality and pragmatic communications after heated words between the government and a top Chinese official over where the blame lies for deteriorating cross-strait relations. “The initial cause of the incident was improper and threatening remarks recently made by th e head of the [China’s] Taiwan Affairs Office. The council yesterday reiterated that maintaining cross-strait peace and amicable exchanges is a responsibility shared by the two sides of the Strait. China suspended cross-strait dialogue since Tsai’s inauguration, saying her acknowledgement of the so-called “1992 consensus” is a non-negotiable precondition for resumption of talks. Former Mainland Affairs Council chairman Su Chi (蘇起) said in 2006 that he had made up the term in 2000.

Source: Taipei Times March 13, 2017 15:56 UTC