MAC sees breakthrough in relations as unlikely

Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday said that a breakthrough is unlikely in cross-strait relations, despite China's new line of leadership.

"The possibility for cross-strait relations to have a breakthrough in the near future is pretty low," said Tsai.

Tsai made the remarks in response to media inquiries about Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao's (胡錦濤) assuming leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the presidency of China. Hu, 60, succeeded Jiang Zemin (江澤民) yesterday as the president of China.

While saying that she had no further comments on the new leadership in China, Tsai said that she hopes cross-strait relations can continue to remain stable.

"And aside from keeping cross-strait relations stable," she added, "we also hope that China will initiate some concrete steps to substantially improve the relations between both sides of the Strait."