China's top body in charge of relations with Taiwan rebuked the self-ruled island on Wednesday for officials' "irresponsible" comments on the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, and took an apparent swipe at the protests that often happen in democratic Taiwan.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has expressed his support for the demonstrators in the former British colony, and last week urged China to move toward democracy.
Since assuming office in 2008, the China-friendly Ma has signed a series of landmark trade and economic agreements with Beijing, but Taiwan has shown little desire for political talks with Communist-run China.