The Chinese mainland has criticized Lai Ching-te, the new leader of the Taiwan region, for sending a “dangerous signal” of pursuing “Taiwan independence” and provoking cross-strait tensions in his inaugural speech on Monday.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stated that Lai’s speech stubbornly adhered to a separatist stance, openly promoting separatism, inciting confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and seeking independence by relying on external forces and military means.
“The mainstream public aspiration on the island is for peace and development, not war and recession,” Chen said. “However, Lai has ignored public opinion, exposing his nature as a worker for ‘Taiwan independence.'”
Chen emphasized that the current complex and grave situation across the Taiwan Strait is rooted in the Democratic Progressive Party’s adherence to the separatist stance of “Taiwan independence,” rejection of the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle, and continued collusion with external forces to seek independence.
“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” Chen reiterated, stressing that “Taiwan independence” and peace across the strait are incompatible. “We have firm determination to resolve the Taiwan question and realize national reunification; we have strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity; and we will take resolute actions to fight separatist activities seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference,” he said.
Chen asserted that China must and will be reunified. “No matter how the situation on the island changes and who assumes the regional leadership, it will not change the fact that both sides of the strait belong to one China or impede the historical trend of national reunification,” he said.
“We will fully implement the Party’s overall policy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, unswervingly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, work together with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and cross-strait integrated development, and resolutely advance the reunification of the motherland,” Chen concluded.
Reference(s):
Mainland: Lai sent 'dangerous signal' in speech as Taiwan's new leader
cgtn.com
