Mainland rips remarks by Taiwan over sovereignty

A mainland spokeswoman on Taiwan affairs on Monday denounced recent remarks made by the island authority that challenged China's sovereignty.

Reiterating the importance of adherence to the one-China principle, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that "Taiwan belongs to all Chinese people, and issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all Chinese people."

Her remarks came after Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said on Sunday that "Taiwan has never belonged to the People's Republic of China, and only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine its future and development."

The island authority's claim was in response to a statement made by Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat, during a high-level strategic dialogue between Beijing and Washington last week. During the meeting, Yang said Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and that China staunchly opposes interference by the United States in its internal affairs.

Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, warned that the country will take "firm actions" in response to any such interference.

Zhu said that both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China, and compatriots on both sides are all Chinese.

It was very dangerous for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party authorities on the island to attempt to make provocations to seek independence, she said, adding that "If they don't repent, they will have to pay for it."

China must and will be reunified, Zhu said, as it is an inevitable requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The future of Taiwan lies in reunification with the mainland, and the well-being of Taiwan compatriots hinges on national rejuvenation, she said.

"We will continue to unite our compatriots in Taiwan to promote the peaceful, integrated development of cross-Straits relations and the process of national reunification," she added.