The Chinese mainland has sharply criticized Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's recent stopover in the United States, labeling it as a separatist maneuver aimed at seeking external support for Taiwan independence.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, spoke at a press briefing on Wednesday, expressing strong opposition to any official interactions between the U.S. and Taiwan authorities. She condemned any form of transit by a Taiwan leader to the U.S., regardless of the name or pretext used.
Zhu emphasized that the separatist stance taken by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan poses the greatest threat to the current cross-Strait relations. She criticized the DPP authorities for collaborating with external elements to frequently instigate separatist provocations, effectively hijacking Taiwan's trajectory towards independence.
The spokesperson urged the DPP authorities to abandon any aspirations of seeking Taiwan independence through reliance on external forces or military backing. Zhu stated, \"Only by returning to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, can cross-Strait relations get back onto the right track of peaceful development, and a secure future for Taiwan's growth and prosperity be guaranteed.\"
Reference(s):
Chinese mainland: Lai Ching-te's U.S. 'stopover' a separatist move
cgtn.com
