Taiwan leader's 'warmongering' stance slammed

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Thursday strongly condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's new action plans regarding the island's security, warning they would bring ruin to the island and expose a "warmongering nature".

Chen Binhua, spokesman for State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, accused Lai of undermining cross-Strait relations and pursuing "Taiwan independence". Chen warned that such actions would push Taiwan into the "disastrous abyss of war and danger".

The remarks followed Lai's speech at a "high-level security meeting" in Taiwan on Wednesday, where the Democratic Progressive Party authorities unveiled plans to safeguard "democratic Taiwan" and strengthen "defense" capabilities by increasing the island's military expenditure.

During the press conference after the meeting on Wednesday, Lai called for increasing Taiwan's "defense" budget through a $40 billion supplementary package. He also reaffirmed his pledge to raise "defense" spending to 3.3 percent of GDP next year and to 5 percent by 2030.

Chen accused the plans of "aggressively hyping the 'mainland threat' and attempting to seek 'independence' by force and by relying on external forces". He described Lai's action plans as a warmongering scheme that threatens disaster for the island and its people.

"Lai's separatist fallacies are filled with hostility and confrontation, fully demonstrating his obstinate 'Taiwan independence' stance," Chen said, calling the agenda "radical and reckless" and the provocations "brazen and unrestrained".

"His actions that betray and harm Taiwan are becoming increasingly egregious," he added.

According to Chen, Lai has now unveiled these action plans along with "13 specific measures", after previously labeling the mainland as an "external hostile force" and introducing "17 strategies" in March.

Chen denounced Lai for ignoring mainstream public opinion on the island and for heightening tensions across the Taiwan Strait since taking office by adhering to an "independence" stance and deliberately fueling "anti-mainland" sentiment.

"'Taiwan independence' means war and is a dead end," Chen said. He warned that if separatist forces dare to cross the red line of the Taiwan question, "we will resolutely take action and strike back with full force."

Lai's remarks also drew criticism within Taiwan. Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, condemned Lai for moving further toward "independence".

"Lai's words have not only turned the Taiwan Strait into a powder keg, but also turned Taiwan into an arms factory," Cheng said Wednesday.

She urged Lai not to become a creator of trouble, noting, "This is not what the people of Taiwan want, nor what the region or the international community wishes to see."

Ma Ying-jeou, former Taiwan leader and ex-KMT chairman, wrote on Facebook on Thursday that Lai has not considered paths for cross-Strait reconciliation and dialogue.

"He relies only on continuously expanding military purchases and fueling confrontational sentiment, the cost of which will ultimately be borne by all the people of Taiwan," Ma said.

Chen reiterated Beijing's position that there is only one China in the world, and both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.

"Reunification is a historical inevitability, and differences in systems are neither an obstacle to reunification, nor an excuse for secession," he said.

He added that peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" is the best approach to achieve national reunification. It will fully take into account the realities of Taiwan, extensively draw on views and suggestions from people across the Strait, and fully safeguard the interests and feelings of our compatriots in Taiwan.