Li Yihu, left, a deputy to the National People's Congress and head of Peking University's Taiwan Institute, answers questions from reporters at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday during the ongoing session of China's top legislature and advisory body.

Li told reporters that relations across the Straits will be affected if the new leader of Taiwan continues to avoid upholding the 1992 Consensus after they take office on May 20.

The 1992 Consensus clearly defines the nature of cross-Straits ties and is the basis for the peaceful development of relations in the long run.

Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, who won Taiwan's leadership election in January, remains ambiguous about her stance on the 1992 Consensus, stating only that she wishes to "maintain the status quo." [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/chinadaily.com.cn]