BEIJING -- The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority's provocative actions to seek "independence" in collusion with external forces have posed the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a question concerning factors hindering Taiwan's economic development at a press conference.

Without a stable situation in the Taiwan Straits and peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, it is impossible for Taiwan to have a stable and sound investment and business environment, which will have a direct impact on the economic development of the island and the immediate interests of its residents, Zhu said.