Zhu Fenglian Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

The greatest challenge to the current cross-Straits relations is the Democratic Progress Party (DPP) authorities' persistent pursuit of "Taiwan independence," colluding with external forces, and repeatedly undertaking provocative acts of seeking "independence," Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference on Wednesday, sternly warning the DPP authorities to abandon their illusions of seeking "independence" through military means or by relying on external forces and to cease all "Taiwan independence" separatist activities.

Zhu made the remarks in response to Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's labeling the mainland the "biggest challenge" and vowing to bolster the island's "defense capacity" in a speech during his "transit" in Hawaii on December 1. 

Lai's so-called "transit" is a calculated effort to advance "Taiwan independence" by relying on external forces. It aims to promote his "Taiwan independence" agenda, misleading international opinion and deceiving the Taiwan's public, said Zhu, noting that the mainland firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan island and strongly objects to the so-called "transit" of Taiwan's regional leader through the US under any pretext or for any reason.

Only by returning to the 1992 Consensus can cross-Straits relations return to the correct path of peaceful development, ensuring Taiwan's future development is genuinely safeguarded, said Zhu. 

Zhu strongly condemned the actions of "Taiwan independence" separatists who collude with external forces to provoke and undermine cross-Straits relations. She said that Lai's visit to Pacific island countries and his strategic "transit" through the US under the guise of "democracy" to promote "Taiwan independence" mislead the international community and attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" by relying on external forces. 

Such provocations must be countered and punished, said Zhu. 

Also on Wednesday, Zhu responded that the claim made by Taiwan's "Mainland Affairs Council" that the mainland is "engaging in exchanges on one hand and using military threats on the other" is a misleading fallacy. 

Recent visits by delegations of teachers and students from mainland universities to Taiwan were enthusiastically welcomed by the Taiwan public, fully reflecting the mainstream opinion on the island, which favors peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation. The mainland will continue to promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation across various fields, Zhu said.

Zhu expressed hope that the people of Taiwan will see through the DPP authorities' stubborn commitment to "Taiwan independence" separatism, their relentless provocations and harmful intentions in escalating hostility and confrontation across the Straits. 

It is hoped that the people of Taiwan to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and to make joint efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and protect their own security and well-being, Zhu said.

Some prominent US experts, including Richard Bush from the American Institute in Taiwan have recently commented that the DPP authorities' plans to increase military spending and purchase large quantities of US arms are unrealistic and futile. Their remarks have been seen as a cold shower for the DPP authorities. 

Zhu said the DPP authorities' attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" through military means by recklessly squandering the hard-earned money of the Taiwan people on weapons and paying exorbitant "protection fees" is nothing more than a self-destructive act. It will only lead Taiwan closer to the dangers of war and disaster. 

The deeper their reliance on external forces to seek "independence," the greater the destruction of Taiwan. Such actions are akin to moths flying into a flame, leading to their own demise, said Zhu.

Global Times