Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office Photo:VCG

"Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Straits and is a source of instability in the Asia-Pacific region. If we want to bring cross-Straits relations back to the correct track of peaceful development and ensure the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits, we must return to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle, Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Wednesday. 

Chen noted that the Taiwan question has always been the most important and sensitive question in China-US relations. During the meeting between the head of state of China and the US in San Francisco, President Xi Jinping elaborated on China's principles and stance on the Taiwan question to the US, emphasizing that the US should reflect its rhetoric of not supporting "Taiwan independence" into concrete actions, stop arming the island of Taiwan and support China's peaceful reunification. 

In response to reports that Taiwan was asked to acquire the decommissioned US littoral combat ship, Chen said that these reports have made it clear to everyone that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are willing to squander the hard-earned money of the people in the island of Taiwan and act as a "ATM" for the US, all for their own interests.

If the DPP authorities are allowed to continue on the path of selling Taiwan, harming Taiwan, and destroying Taiwan, it will only push Taiwan into a dangerous situation of war and bring great harm to the people of Taiwan, said Chen. 

The spokesperson also responded to questions on the 2024 regional election in Taiwan. DPP candidate Lai Ching-te, who is also the deputy regional leader of the island, formally announced Hsiao Bi-khim, the island of Taiwan's representative in the US, and a diehard separatist sanctioned by the Chinese mainland, as his running mate. Public opinion in the island said that the duo of Lai and Hsiao will only push Taiwan into a disastrous abyss.

Chen said that he has seen many netizens commented that the "Taiwan-independence duo" is actually the "double poisonous duo" as it means poison and harm.

"Taiwan independence" means war, and the DPP's introduction of such a dangerous "Taiwan independence" duo will only harm the interests and well-being of the people in Taiwan, harm the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits, and harm the future and destiny of Taiwan, Chen said. 

 "We respect the social system of the island Taiwan… Currently, Taiwan is facing a crucial choice between peace and war, prosperity and regression. We hope that the people of Taiwan can recognize their interests, distinguish right from wrong, firmly oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism and foreign interference, and jointly promote the cross-Straits relations back to the correct track of peaceful development and share the dividends of peaceful development, said Chen.