Beijing Accuses Taiwan Leader of Inciting Confrontation and Clinging to Separatist Stances

Beijing, Oct 11 (KUNA) — Beijing today accused the leader of Taiwan, an autonomous region that China considers an inalienable part of its territory, of inciting confrontation and adhering to separatist positions. This came in a statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Defense in response to a speech delivered yesterday by the island’s leader, Lai Qingde, on the occasion of National Day, in which he called for increased defense spending, citing continued pressure from the mainland through military maneuvers aimed at altering the status quo in the strait.

Xinhua News Agency quoted the statement as saying, “There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan being part of China is the true status quo in the strait.” It accused Lai of reversing right and wrong, exaggerating the mainland’s military threat, and attempting to rely on external forces and military power to pursue separatism. The statement added that this once again revealed his true nature and characterized him as “Taiwan’s scourge and a disaster for peace.”

It pointed out that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party under Lai’s leadership has, in recent years, sought to reject reunification, flatter foreign powers, and tie the island’s people to the “Taiwan independence” cart, thereby threatening strait stability and sacrificing Taiwan’s future for the party’s narrow interests.

It affirmed that the regular military exercises conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in areas surrounding the island are specifically aimed at deterring reckless moves toward so-called “Taiwan independence” and external interference plans, as well as safeguarding the security and well-being of the island’s residents, noting that this is entirely legitimate and beyond reproach.

It stressed that “Taiwan independence” and peace in the strait are “completely contradictory and cannot coexist, like fire and water,” and that national reunification is an irresistible historical trend and a just cause that the people look forward to achieving. (End) S L Q / N S A