Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, attends a press conference in Beijing, on September 13, 2023. Photo: VCG

Chinese mainland has firm action in opposing the separatist agenda of “Taiwan independence,” resolute ability in crushing secessionists’ behavior and safeguarding national sovereignty, and unshakable will in solving the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in response to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate’s confrontational remarks in a debate on Saturday. 

DPP candidate for Taiwan regional election Lai Ching-te, who is also the deputy regional leader of the island, advocated in the debate the “sovereign independence” of Taiwan island, distorted “1992 Consensus” and clamored that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits “are not subordinate to one another.”

The spokesperson said in response that since taking office in 2016, the DPP authorities of Taiwan island have refused to acknowledge the one-China principle and the "1992 Consensus," and have pursued a separatist "Taiwan independence" agenda. They have engaged in provocative actions, deliberately undermining the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and forcefully obstructing and restricting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation. 

The spokesperson continued that they have continuously escalated tensions in the Taiwan Straits, becoming the main source of chaos and danger for Taiwan island, and the main culprit for severely impeding cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, and causing significant harm to the interests of Taiwanese compatriots. As the prominent figure and current chairman of the DPP, Lai cannot escape responsibility for this. The remarks once again exposed Lai’s true face of stubborn “worker for Taiwan independence,” destroyer of cross-Straits peace and instigator of Taiwan-Straits conflicts.

"Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Straits, said the spokesperson, noting that Chinese mainland has firm action in opposing the separatist agenda of “Taiwan independence,” resolute ability in crushing secessionists’ behavior and safeguarding national sovereignty, and unshakable will in solving the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification.

As long as the "1992 Consensus" is adhered to and "Taiwan independence" is opposed, cross-Straits relations can return to the track of peaceful development, cross-Straits consultations can be resumed, cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation can proceed smoothly, and compatriots on both sides, especially Taiwanese compatriots, can live a peaceful, secure, and prosperous life, the spokesperson said. 

Global Times