Ma Xiaoguang Photo: cnsphoto

Tensions in cross-Straits relations in the island of Taiwan are on the rise, reflecting the deep concern of the Taiwan people and society over the danger and harm brought by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority's provocations for "independence," a spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council said on Wednesday.

All compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are Chinese. "No one is more willing than us to achieve complete reunification of the motherland through peaceful means. However, we will never sit idly by in the face of 'Taiwan independence' secessionists who dare to split China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ma Xiaoguang said.

According to a recent survey by the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation, more than half of the people in the island believed that the Taiwan military forces would not last 100 days if the Chinese mainland "attacked the island by force," and more than half of the people in the island do not trust the US' promise to "defend" the island. In response, Ma said the Chinese mainland's policy of peaceful reunification has not changed.

In a recent interview, Joseph Wu, leader of the external affairs authority of Taiwan, said that "China has never ruled Taiwan" adding that "neither side of the Taiwan Straits is subordinate to the other" and that the US warships sailing through the Taiwan Straits are practicing so-called freedom of navigation.

Ma said that Wu's absurd remarks, apart from exposing the divisive nature of peddling the "two states" theory and seeking independence with the help of external forces, is untenable according to both law and fact.

Although the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have not yet been reunified, the island's status as a part of China's territory has always been the same and will not be allowed to be modified. "China's sovereignty over the island of Taiwan has never changed and will not change," Ma stressed.

The international community recognizes that there is only one China in the world, the island of Taiwan is a part of China and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China. The Chinese government follows the one-China principle in dealing with foreign exchanges in the island of Taiwan and protects all legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots overseas. "This is a concrete sign of China's sovereignty over the island of Taiwan," Ma explained.

Besides, China enjoys sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Straits, Ma said. At the same time, China respects the right of navigation enjoyed by other countries in accordance with international law, but firmly opposes any country's provocations or threats to China's sovereignty and security in the name of "freedom of navigation." 

Joseph Wu likes to cooperate with external forces to hype up the issue, while damaging the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Straits and selling out the overall interests of the Chinese nation, this kind of behavior will never be tolerated by 1.4 billion Chinese people, Ma noted.

The DPP authority has continuously strengthened military and paramilitary ties with foreign forces, causing tension and turmoil in the Taiwan Straits, Ma said. The DPP authority's purchase of arms from foreign countries has wasted the hard-earned money of the Taiwan people and risked pushing them into war. Relying on external forces to seek "independence" is doomed to fail.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the G7 nations reaffirmed "the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encourage a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues." 

In response, Ma said that it is very dangerous for the US and the West to try to contain China's development and reunification by playing the "Taiwan card" with their allies.

In order to achieve their ulterior political purpose, they turn a blind eye to the provocative attempts by the DPP authority and "Taiwan independence" secessionists, while absurdly accusing the Chinese mainland of being the so-called spoiler of peace and stability in the Straits. This is a complete distortion of facts and an evident confusion about what is right and what is wrong, Ma noted.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that in disregard of China's firm position, the G7 nations have once again used the communiqué of the summit to advocate the narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism," grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, attacked and discredited China and incited confrontation. 

"This fully shows that the G7 has no intention of conducting dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and respect. Instead, it adheres to a Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice and pursues bloc politics based on the interests of small groups," Zhao stressed.

The G7 members, who have benefited the most from globalization, should shoulder special responsibilities for advancing globalization, promoting world economic growth and resolving global economic and financial challenges. However, the international community is at a critical stage in the fight against COVID-19 and economic recovery. Instead of working for unity and cooperation, the G7 is keen on creating division and confrontation without any sense of responsibility or morality, Zhao said.

"The G7 nations, whose population only accounts for one tenth of the world's total,  are not qualified to represent the whole world, let alone demanding the rest of the world adopt their own values and standards as general standards," Zhao noted.

Global Times