Photo: CNA

In pursuit of his own interest, Lai Ching-te would rather sacrifice national justice and the interests of the people, undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, a spokesperson from the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco on Thursday strongly condemneda "stopover" visit to the US by the deputy regional leader of Taiwan island.

The spokesperson referred to Lai -- also a candidate of the separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for the 2024 Taiwan regional leader's election -- as an outright "troublemaker."

In Thursday's statement, the spokesperson restated China's position over his "stopover" visit to the US. China firmly opposes any form of official contact between the US and Taiwan, firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" separatists'visit to the US under any name or reason, and firmly opposes the US government having any form of official contact with Taiwan, the spokesperson said.

Lai is an outright separatist advocating "Taiwan independence" who clings stubbornly to the separatist position for "Taiwan independence," publicly claims to be as a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker," even attacks the one-China principle and the "1992 Consensus."

He attempted to hype the situation up to help his electoral prospects in Taiwan and push the US to back up his "Taiwan independence" words and deeds under the guise of a "stopover," the spokesperson noted.

Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunificationis a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. "Taiwan independence" separatist activities remain the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, the spokesperson said.

As Lai reached San Francisco, hundreds of overseas Chinese waved red five-star flags, held banners bearing the slogan "there is only one China in the world," and shouted "Taiwan independence is a dead end"to protest against his "stopover" visit outside the Hyatt Hotel near San Francisco Airport on Wednesday, Taiwan media reported.

Protesters were also seen during a banquet he attended in New York on Wednesday to advocate his separatist political stance. Video taken by Reuters showed some driving a vehicle with a slogan reading"Get out you son of bitch Lai Ching-teTaiwan independenceseparatists" outside the banquet venue. Songs"March of the Volunteers" and "Ode to the Motherland," were well heard outside the venue, according to the World Journal.

TheChinese Consulate General in San Francisco appealed to people from all walks of life in the consular district to fully understand the origin, nature and true status quo of the Taiwan question and fully understand and respect the desire and efforts of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize complete national reunification.

The spokesperson from the Chinese Consulate Generalcalled on peoplewho love peace and uphold justice, resolutely oppose the separatist words and deeds linked to "Taiwan independence," and safeguard the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straitsand the common interests of the Chinese and American people.

Global Times