Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned yesterday that the opposition Kuomintang may have broken the law if it signed any pact with the mainland.
The top planning body on mainland policy also reiterated the government's position that even if the KMT reached an agreement with the mainland, it would be impossible for the authorities to recognise it.
The comments by Chiu Tai-san, outgoing vice-chairman and spokesman for the council, came after reports that KMT vice-chairman Chiang Pin-kung reached a consensus with Chen Yunlin , director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, in Beijing on Wednesday.
Spokesmen from both sides revealed a 10-point accord under which the mainland agreed to discuss with Taiwan issues concerning charter cargo flights, the importation of Taiwanese farm products, protection of Taiwanese investors' interests, the employment of mainland fishermen, a reduction of tuition fees for Taiwanese studying on the mainland and the promotion of local government-level exchanges, among other points.
'If the so-called consensus is a signed document, the KMT has violated the Cross-Strait People's Relations Act,' said Mr Chiu, adding that any agreements signed between Taiwan and the mainland and involving cross-strait policies must have prior approval from the Taiwanese government, or they would be considered illegal.
Offenders can be fined up to NT$2 million ($490,000) and jailed for up to five years.
Mr Chiu said the council had to investigate whether Mr Chiang signed any official agreement with the mainland during his visit.