The Chinese mainland has condemned the Taiwan authorities' moves to restrict participation in the 18th Straits Forum, the largest annual grassroots exchange event across the Taiwan Strait. 

The forum is scheduled to take place in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, on July 13. 

The Taiwan authorities described the forum as a "united front platform" organized by the mainland, and announced further restrictions on participation by officials from the island.

In response, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council said such restrictions undermine cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, while harming the interests of people in Taiwan.