Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Taiwan affairs authority on the Chinese mainland condemned Taiwan’s deputy leader Lai Ching-te for sensationalizing China’s elaboration on the Taiwan question during the China-US Presidential Summit in San Francisco.
During the meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last week in the Unites States, Xi elaborated on China’s principled position on the Taiwan question. He pointed out that the Taiwan question remains the most important and most sensitive issue in China-US relations, Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement.
During the meeting, China urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle, oppose “Taiwan independence”, stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs, and support China’s peaceful reunification, it said.
Some media reported that “the mainland has no plan for military action against Taiwan in coming years” was mentioned during the talks.
Lai, the DPP’s candidate for the elections in January, said such remarks were a clear rebuke to the claim from the Kuomintang, the major opposition party, that the 2024 election is a choice between war and peace is merely an election lie.
In response, Chen said by quoting a remark out of its context, Lai attempted to downplay and negate the harmful and dangerous nature of “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, whitewash his image of “troublemaker” and “war instigator” who are promoting “independence” of the island.
“These tactics were aimed at creating excuses for further provocations and confusing the public to gain votes,” Chen said.
He called for the people of Taiwan to realize that “Taiwan independence” is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait, firmly oppose “independence” and work towards a return to the correct path of peaceful development in cross-Strait relations.
