Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian. Photo: The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council slams "Taiwan independence" secessionists, saying that they continue to make irresponsible remarks relating to the mainland's punishment of Taiwan-based Far Eastern Group. 

Separatist groups are politically manipulating the investigation and punishment of Taiwan-based Far Eastern Group, once again inciting confrontation and creating hostility, laying bare their ugly faces, Zhu Fenglian, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Friday. 

Zhu's comment came after Taiwan played up the move, including Taiwan's regional leader Tsai Ing-wen saying the mainland should stop such behavior immediately, and Su Tseng-chang, a diehard Taiwan secessionist who has been punished by the mainland also attempting to call the mainland out for action against the firm. 

It is the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that is raising tensions, severely undermining the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, leading to a "chilling effect," and creating many obstacles to normal cross-Straits trade exchanges. It is the DPP and "Taiwan independence" secessionists that really hurt and undermine cross-Straits trade, Zhu said. 

The companies involved have all admitted that there were provable violations of laws and regulations, and have paid or are paying fines and taxes in accordance with the procedures. The Far East Group has remained silent, but Taiwan secessionists are committed to ignoring the facts and deliberately making irresponsible remarks, Zhu said.

A number of firms funded by Taiwan-based Far Eastern Group have been handed fines and taxes equally to around 474 million yuan ($74.1 million) for a series of violations of laws and regulations in the mainland, after law enforcement agencies in various provinces and regions launched investigations into the companies. 

The Taiwan Affairs Office stressed that the mainland's position remains welcoming and supportive of Taiwan enterprises investing and expanding on the mainland.

We welcome Taiwan-based enterprises to invest and expand on the mainland and will continue to protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law. But we will never allow those that support Taiwan secessionists or undermine cross-Straits relations to make money on the mainland," Zhu noted.