Lai's separatist agenda makes dialogue impossible, mainland spokesman says

Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's recent comments continue to promote a separatist agenda that undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, a mainland spokesman said on Tuesday, accusing Lai of taking a confrontational stance that makes dialogue impossible.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks while responding to Lai's speech marking his first year in office and other recent statements on cross-Strait relations.

Lai's rhetoric highlights a strategy of seeking foreign backing and military means to advance separatist goals, Chen said. He criticized Lai for depicting the mainland as a threat through what he called a false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism," which he said only serves to heighten tensions.

Chen also accused Lai of pushing for economic decoupling from the mainland and of obstructing cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

While Lai has publicly expressed willingness to engage with the mainland based on "mutual respect" and has called for a resumption of talks under his "two-state" framework, Chen denounced those overtures as hypocritical.

"Lai's two-faced tactics are doomed to fail," Chen said, adding that Taiwan remains an inalienable part of China and that the momentum toward national reunification cannot be stopped.

Chen reiterated the mainland's openness to dialogue with political parties, groups, and individuals in Taiwan aimed at promoting reunification and expanding cooperation, provided it is under the one-China principle.