Zhu Fenglian Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

Taiwan's future lies in reunification and it can only be determined by over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including 23 million Taiwan compatriots, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council, said on Wednesday, noting that Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities continue to seek "Taiwan independence" by relying on foreign forces, putting the Taiwan people in a risky situation of a potential conflict triggered by "Taiwan independence." Their moves seriously deviate from historical trend and are bound to fail. 

Zhu's remarks were made in response to Lai's recent secessionist rhetoric and claim to strengthen Taiwan's "defense capabilities." 

Lai's words once again exposed his stubborn "Taiwan independence" mentality, action to implement it and his malicious nature to continuously provoke confrontation. Taiwan's future lies in reunification and it can only be determined by over 1.4 billion Chinese people, including 23 million Taiwan compatriots, Zhu stressed at the press conference on Wednesday. 

The spokesperson also noted that resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the common aspiration of all Chinese people and a necessary requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

"We would like to remind the DPP authorities: While unification is the trend, how can division last long? 'Taiwan independence' is a dead end and evil deeds will ultimately be punished," said Zhu.

Lai and the DPP's recent provocative actions aim to assert their political intention and consolidate support for their secessionist moves in the island while signaling to the US their commitment to "self-defense" in hopes of securing additional aid, Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

As a "practical worker for Taiwan independence," Lai is fully aware that the island cannot confront the mainland by itself, Xin said, noting that Lai has to rely on external forces, especially the US, by actions including purchasing arms and strengthening military cooperation, meanwhile through hyping the island's so-called "self-defense' capability. 

However, the US merely views Taiwan as a pawn to contain the mainland, analysts said. A recent report released by the US Department of Defense's Inspector General revealed that moldy armor and expired ammunition were among "unserviceable" US military equipment delivered to Taiwan recently and some of the 2.7 million rounds of poorly packaged ammunition were manufactured in 1983 and had expired, South China Morning Post reported.  

The report once again shows a fact that the US prioritizes its own interests at all times, and a pawn can easily become a discarded piece — Taiwan will be no exception, the spokesperson said. 

For the sake of their own interests in pursuing "Taiwan independence," the DPP authorities not only passively accept the junk [military] items of the US but also willingly serve as an "ATM machine" for the US, squandering the hard-earned money of the Taiwan people. This will not only fail to ensure the safety of the Taiwan people but will also push them toward the peril of war, said Zhu. 

The DPP authorities' recent provocations have sparked criticism within the island. Some politicians were cited by Taiwan media as saying that Lai cannot indulge in short-term gains at the expense of the Taiwan people, and his remarks are sure to be met with reactions from the mainland. Some netizens also expressed their worries on escalating tensions across the Taiwan Straits.