File Photo: Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Sunday said the mainland will continue to enhance solidarity with Taiwan compatriots and follow a path of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks when asked to comment on the local elections in Taiwan over the weekend. We have noticed the results of the elections, said Ma, adding that the results reflected the strong will of the public in Taiwan in sharing the benefits of the peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait, and desires to improve the island's economy and people's wellbeing. We will continue to uphold the 1992 Consensus, and to resolutely oppose separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and their activities, said Ma. With a correct understanding on the nature of the cross-Straits relations and the nature of exchanges between cities across the Strait, more counties and cities in Taiwan are welcomed to participated in such exchanges and cooperation, said Ma. The failure of the so-called referendum on a name-changing motion for Taiwan to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics showed that putting Taiwanese athletes' interests at stake is against people's will, Ma said. Ma said the attempts of Taiwan independence are doomed to fail. printed wristbandsdesign your own silicone wristbandsrubber band braceletssilicone bandsbracelets with sayings customize
SEOUL - A South Korean court on Friday sentenced the impeached President Park Geun-hye to 24 years in jail and fined her 18 billion won ($17 million) over a series of corruption counts.Park, who was removed out of office in March last year over an influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, was convicted of 16 corruption counts that include bribery, abuse of power and coercion.Prosecutors had charged Park with 18 counts, seeking a 30-year jail sentence with a fine of 118.5 billion won ($111.4 million).The Seoul Central District Court delivered a verdict of guilty, which was broadcast live nationwide. Park objected to the decision citing the violation of the innocence presumption, but the court said it allowed the live broadcasting for the trial's significance, historical meaning and people's right to know.Park did not appear in the courtroom in protest against the live broadcasting. The ousted president has not shown up in any court hearing since October last year to protest against her extended detention for six more months.Three weeks after her impeachment last March, Park was taken into custody at a detention center outside of Seoul.The country's first female leader, who was also the first president to be impeached while in office, is required to request a retrial within a week if she disagrees with the ruling.Choi, who was at the center of the corruption scandal, was sentenced in February to 20 years in prison.Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the heir apparent and the only son to Chairman Lee Kun-hee, was set free by the appeals court in February with a sentence of two and a half years in prison suspended for four years.The court found guilty of Park's collusion with Choi to abuse her presidential power and coerce local conglomerates, including Samsung and retail giant Lotte, to donate tens of millions of dollars to nonprofit foundations which the court said Choi actually controlled.Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was put under court custody in February with a sentence of two and a half years in jail for bribery.
