The Chinese mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office has strongly criticized Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's New Year speech, calling it a "dangerous provocation" that threatens cross-strait stability. Spokesperson Chen Binhua stated on Thursday that Lai's remarks promoted "fallacies of Taiwan independence" and deliberately escalated tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
"Lai Ching-te's speech revealed his confrontational mindset and true nature as a saboteur of peace," Chen said, emphasizing that Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China throughout history. The spokesperson warned that recent actions by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have increased military risks for residents of Taiwan, stating: "No separatist schemes can alter the inevitable trend toward complete national reunification."
Chen reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to peaceful development of cross-strait relations but cautioned that "any attempts to split the country will be met with the collective opposition of all Chinese people." The remarks come amid heightened regional attention to cross-strait dynamics following Lai's first New Year address since taking office.
