Lai's 'Taiwan independence' rhetoric denounced

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman criticized Taiwan's leader Lai Ching-te on Wednesday for his recent speech, calling it a blatant push for "Taiwan independence" that deepens social divisions on the island and provokes confrontation across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks after Lai called on Taiwan's political parties to stand united in "protecting Taiwan and resisting" the Chinese mainland. His comments were made on Tuesday night during a speech in Tao-yuan, the second in a planned series of 10 speeches across the island.

Zhu accused Lai of rehashing "Taiwan independence" rhetoric and distorting history to fuel discontent and hatred. She said his remarks once again promoted the "two-state" fallacy of "mutual non-subordination" between the mainland and Taiwan.

"Lai has recklessly slandered cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, labeling the public's desire for peace and the mainland's goodwill toward compatriots as 'threats'," Zhu said. "The people of Taiwan do not agree with these views."

Lai's actions aim to stir anti-mainland sentiment, suppress opposition parties and promote a wide-scale recall of opposition "lawmakers", she added.

A recall vote is scheduled for July 26, targeting 24 "lawmakers" from the Chinese Kuomintang and the mayor of Hsinchu. The outcome could significantly reshape the balance of power in the island's legislature. The opposition currently holds a narrow majority, with the Kuomintang and "the smaller Taiwan People's Party holding a combined 62 seats. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, led by Lai, has 51 seats.

The DPP has framed the recall campaign as part of a broader movement to "resist the mainland and protect Taiwan".

The spokeswoman said that since taking office, the Lai administration has sought one-party dominance, ignoring public calls to focus on improving livelihoods and pursuing peace, development and cross-Strait cooperation.

Zhu accused the DPP authorities of suppressing opposition voices and individuals who support closer ties with the mainland, sparking widespread concern and dissatisfaction among Taiwan residents.

On Tuesday, civil groups and individuals advocating peaceful cross-Strait development rallied outside the island's "legislature" to oppose the DPP's recall push.

Chi Hsing, publisher of The Observer magazine in Taiwan, said that if the DPP succeeds in the recall vote, it could gain a "legislative majority" by Aug 1. That would allow the party to potentially overturn laws passed over the past year through cooperation between the KMT and the TPP, she said, warning of further political persecution of opposition forces.

Chi Chia-lin, honorary chairman of the Reunification Alliance Party in Taiwan, said the DPP's backing of "independence" and its anti-mainland stance, if left unchecked, could further deteriorate cross-Strait ties and lead to heightened tensions or even conflict.

Yu Chi-bin, deputy secretary of the island's New Party, called Lai's speech series "baseless and misleading", and urged the public to vote against the recall and oppose what he described as growing authoritarianism.

zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn