Mainland condemns DPP's use of public funds for US observers at Taiwan drills

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday condemned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities for spending public funds to invite US personnel to observe Taiwan's military drills, emphasizing that the Taiwan question does not tolerate external interference.

At a regular news conference, Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, accused the DPP authorities of wasting the hard-earned money of Taiwan residents in a futile attempt to pursue "Taiwan independence" through force and external support.

Taiwan's "defense" department recently acknowledged earmarking approximately NT$82.44 million ($2.54 million) for this year and next to invite US personnel, including a retired US general, to observe the so-called Han Kuang exercises, the island's largest annual military drills.

"The Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, and no external interference will be tolerated," Chen stated. He added that the DPP authorities' pursuit of "Taiwan independence" is misguided and doomed to fail.

The DPP authorities' decision also drew criticism on the island, with public opinion accusing them of "pleading poverty to the people while being generous to outsiders".