Mainland condemns Taiwan leader for playing up 'mainland threat'

The Chinese mainland on Saturday condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for clinging to a "Taiwan independence" stance and playing up the so-called mainland threat in a speech, saying his remarks misled the public and fueled confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai's speech disregarded facts, distorted right and wrong, and exposed his ulterior motives, revealing his true colors as a so-called pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence.

Zhang criticized Lai for stubbornly adhering to a separatist "Taiwan independence" stance and playing up the so-called mainland threat. She also accused him of promoting the false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism" and seeking "Taiwan independence" through force and by relying on external forces.

Such moves stoke confrontation across the Taiwan Strait and undermine regional peace and stability, Zhang said.

"There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China," Zhang said, stressing that this remains the real status quo across the Taiwan Strait. She added that the one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations, a broad consensus in the international community and an important part of the post-World War II international order.

"The future of Taiwan can only and must be decided jointly by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots," she said.

Zhang said the mainland would uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, unite people from all walks of life in Taiwan, resolutely combat separatist forces seeking "Taiwan independence", oppose external interference, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"As people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family, we will deepen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and advance the cause of national reunification and rejuvenation," she added.