Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council)

The development of new quality productive forces in the Chinese mainland is characterized by greater inclusiveness and a higher level of opening-up, which will provide new opportunities for Taiwan-based companies for their participation in the high-quality development of the mainland, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference on Wednesday.

The remarks came in response to a comment made by the island's Mainland Affairs Council alleging that the mainland's development of new quality productive forces aims to break the supply chains dominated by the US and Japan in areas such as new energy and new materials, which will "force Taiwan-based companies to choose sides," according to a press release published on the council's website on March 25.

The council also urged Taiwan-based companies to take note of the impact of the new quality productive forces on the island's economy.

"The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' smearing of the mainland's new quality productive forces and fabricating threats from the mainland is an old trick to hinder cross-Straits cooperation. The bad faith efforts can hardly find any support," Zhu said.

With technological innovation at its core, new quality productive forces feature high-tech, high efficiency and high quality, and comes in line with the new development philosophy. Developing new productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and an important focus for promoting high-quality development, the spokesperson noted.

Zhu said the mainland authorities are willing to help Taiwan-based companies to expand the mainland market in line with laws and regulations and share opportunities brought about by the development of new quality productive forces.

Analysts said the attempted smear efforts revealed DPP authorities' secession intention and desire to go in lock step with the US and Japan in terms of industrial policies and such attempts are futile.

As for companies from the Taiwan island, as long as they support national reunification and comply with laws and regulations on the Chinese mainland, they are welcome to do business, they noted, adding that the development of new quality productive forces is inclusive in nature.

Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Beijing-based Information Consumption Alliance, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the mainland welcomes but does not rely on the high-tech companies from Taiwan island to develop its strategic sectors such as chipmaking, materials and chemicals.

On Monday, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met with a delegation of Taiwan business people led by Liu Chao-shiuan, co-president of the Cross-Strait CEO Summit, in Changzhou of East China's Jiangsu Province, according to Xinhua.

Always taking into account the wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots, the mainland will share with people of Taiwan the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization and make efforts to meet their needs and help them address difficulties, Song said.

Liu pledged that the Taiwan side of the summit will try its best to boost integrated development of industrial and supply chains across the Straits, promote cross-Straits economic cooperation and work for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Responding to a question about anti-dumping tariffs imposed on polycarbonate imported from the Taiwan island starting from April 20, Zhu said the related government agency in the mainland has conducted investigations in line with laws and regulations and WTO rules. 

"The authorities have obtained views from all parties involved and their rights are fully ensured. The ruling is objective and fair," Zhu said.

In the Government Work Report delivered at the 2024 two sessions, China said that it strives to modernize the industrial system and develop new quality productive forces at a faster pace. These efforts include upgrading industrial and supply chains, fostering emerging industries and future-oriented industries as well as promoting the innovative development of the digital economy.

Global Times