PNN – The spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office criticized Taiwan separatists for their reliance on foreign powers.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, citing the Global Times, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China’s State Council, stated that Lai Ching-te, the leader of Taiwan Island, is attempting to mislead public opinion and deceive the people by making baseless claims and exaggerating his capabilities through “playing with numbers.”
These remarks came in response to Lai’s recent video interview with The New York Times, in which he claimed he was willing to offer economic assistance to China.
Referring to official data, the spokesperson said that since the beginning of this year, major economic indicators of mainland China have performed strongly, demonstrating the strength and resilience of China’s economy.
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According to him, from the first to the third quarter of the year, mainland China’s GDP exceeded 101.5 trillion yuan (14.37 trillion USD), showing a 5.2 percent increase compared to last year—an expansion of nearly 4 trillion yuan.
He added that Taiwan’s total GDP by the end of the year is estimated to be lower than that of many mainland provinces.
He continued by saying: It is truly unclear where Lai Ching-te’s confidence comes from.
The Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson stressed that Lai’s reliance on foreign support to advance separatism and promote Taiwan independence contradicts fundamental economic principles and will only lead to the “forced decoupling” of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
He added that Lai has turned a blind eye to the fact that Taiwan’s leading industries are being drained and forced overseas, while the island’s traditional industries are facing severe challenges. His flattery and submission to foreign forces, he said, will only cause further harm to Taiwan.
Chen reiterated that there is only one China in the world that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, and that resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing complete national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people.
He added: The economies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of the economy of the Chinese nation, and Beijing has always believed that Chinese people on both sides of the strait belong to one family. The mainland remains committed to strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation.