Mainland rebukes Lai Ching-te's 'Taiwan independence' remarks

A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's separatist stance, calling any attempt to divide the country or resist reunification "nothing but wishful thinking".

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized Lai's remarks in a recent interview with Agence France-Presse, saying Lai's "Taiwan independence" position reflects a stubborn attitude and a deeply entrenched confrontational mindset.

Chen denounced Lai for promoting the separatist fallacy that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other" and the false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism".

He said Lai has repeatedly challenged the historical and legal fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, incited cross-Strait hostility and confrontation, and sought "independence" by relying on external forces and military means.

"Lai has handed over the hard-earned assets and livelihoods built up by generations of Taiwan people to outsiders, severely harming the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots," Chen said, accusing him of escalating tensions across the Strait and undermining peace and stability in the region.

In the interview with AFP on Tuesday, Lai advocated strengthening the island's "defense" in response to the so-called "threat from the mainland" and expressed support for Taiwan's semiconductor industry to expand investment in Japan, the United States and Europe.

"There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China," Chen reiterated, stressing that this cannot be altered by a few loud claims or political maneuvers.

He added that when and how the Taiwan question is resolved is entirely a matter for the Chinese people, and no external force has the right to interfere.

"In the face of the overarching trend that the two sides of the Strait are bound to and will inevitably be reunified, and the firm resolve of more than 1.4 billion compatriots to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, any attempt to split the country or resist reunification is nothing but wishful thinking," Chen said.