Category: TAO Statements

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: Regarding the passage by the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, the head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said that “this law carries implications of punishing independence, treats opposing independence and promoting unification as the same thing, and creates the possibility of using the law to impose penalties. This is a typical form of transnational repression.” What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: The joint struggle and shared prosperity of all ethnic groups are the source of life, strength, and hope for the Chinese nation. The formulation of the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress lays a stronger legal foundation for forging a strong sense of the Chinese national community and advancing the building of that community. It is of major significance for comprehensively advancing the cause of ethnic unity and progress, and for promoting the united struggle of people of all ethnic groups across the country in pursuit of national strength and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

Compatriots on both sides of the Strait share the same language and race, the same roots and origins, and all belong to the Chinese nation. They are a community with close blood ties and a shared destiny in both honor and hardship. We will thoroughly implement the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, further deepen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, strengthen the shared interests of compatriots on both sides, jointly promote Chinese culture, enhance Taiwan compatriots’ identification with the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the Chinese state, and work together to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Driven by its private interest in pursuing “independence,” the DPP authorities are deliberately confusing the public, fabricating so-called “risks,” and trying to intimidate the people of Taiwan in order to create a chilling effect. As for acts by “Taiwan independence” separatist forces that divide the nation and undermine national unity, we will take all necessary measures and punish them in accordance with the law.

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: In response to criticism from the Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson of Lai Ching-te’s “Taiwan independence” fallacies at the so-called “30th Anniversary of Taiwan’s Direct Presidential Election and Democratic Resilience Forum,” the DPP authorities said that “the essence of cross-Strait relations lies in a struggle between political systems,” that “the mainland should engage in dialogue with Taiwan’s legitimately elected government and pragmatically address problems,” and that “Taiwan’s future must be decided jointly by the 23.5 million people of Taiwan.” What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: Under the banner of so-called “universal values,” the Lai Ching-te authorities use democracy as a cover for suppressing dissent, promoting “resist China, protect Taiwan,” and colluding with external forces. They are attempting to mislead the public, confuse the issue, stir up cross-Strait confrontation, “seek independence by relying on foreign forces,” and “reject unification through military means.” Their sinister intentions are plain for all to see.

Differences in political systems are not an obstacle to unification, much less an excuse for division. What exists across the Strait is absolutely not a struggle between systems, but rather a struggle between unification and division. The so-called “struggle between systems” is merely an excuse used by the DPP authorities to pursue “independence,” and a trick to deceive Taiwan compatriots and international public opinion.

No matter what Lai Ching-te and others like him say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China; they cannot sever the unbreakable historical and legal ties across the Strait; and they cannot overturn the iron rule that Taiwan’s future can only be decided jointly by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots. In the face of the historical trend that the two sides of the Strait will inevitably and must inevitably be unified, and in the face of the resolve and will of more than 1.4 billion compatriots to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, any plot to split the country or resist unification is nothing more than wishful thinking.

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: According to reports, Taiwan’s General Association of Chinese Culture has begun promoting a name change to remove the term “Chinese,” first by changing its English name to one using “Taiwan,” and is expected to rename itself in English as the National Cultural Association of Taiwan. What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: The Chinese nation has a history of immense length and a civilization of profound breadth and depth. The continuous and enduring Chinese culture is the shared spiritual home and lifeblood of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and a strong bond that sustains national feeling and identity. This move by Taiwan’s General Association of Chinese Culture is another farce by the DPP authorities in the cultural sphere, escalating their efforts at “de-Sinicization” and manipulation of “de-Chinese-ification.” Its essence is an attempt to sever the cultural blood ties of common origin shared across the Strait and to manufacture the false perception that “Taiwanese culture is independent from Chinese culture.” Changing the English name first while delaying changes to the Chinese name is a classic sign of a guilty conscience—an attempt to proceed stealthily, hollowing out the meaning of “Chinese” step by step and paving the way for separatist “Taiwan independence” schemes. We firmly oppose this.

Taiwanese culture is rooted in Chinese culture. This is a basic fact and also the collective consensus of the broad majority of Taiwan compatriots; it cannot be distorted or denied. Any attempt to use a name change to pursue “Taiwan independence” separatism or to sever the roots of the nation runs against the course of history and harms national sentiments. It is bound to be firmly opposed by all Chinese people and is absolutely doomed to fail.

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: Due to the situation in the Middle East, nearly 100 Taiwan compatriots who had been stranded there for several days were successfully evacuated with the assistance of Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, transited through Shanghai, and returned to Taiwan. In interviews with the media, a number of those assisted said, “We thank our motherland — it was the mainland that helped us get home.” The DPP authorities, however, claimed that these people had not actually been stranded in a Middle Eastern war zone, that they had received no notification, and that this might be part of the mainland’s “cognitive warfare.” What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: Compatriots on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese. We have always been concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens overseas, including Taiwan compatriots. Recently, due to the situation in the Middle East, many Taiwan compatriots were stranded there. In recent days, the Chinese Consulate General in Istanbul coordinated with relevant parties to help 93 Taiwan compatriots transfer to a mainland flight and arrive in Shanghai, where Taiwan Compatriot Permits were processed for them immediately, enabling them to transit smoothly back to Taiwan. In addition, many other Taiwan compatriots sought assistance through the China Consular Affairs APP, the 12308 consular protection hotline, and other channels. Our embassies in Iran and Israel, as well as the Consulate General in Dubai and other overseas diplomatic and consular missions, also assisted Taiwan compatriots in returning to Taiwan or evacuating to safe areas. Those who received assistance expressed sentiments such as: “No matter when, the motherland is always there for us,” “I personally experienced that people on both sides of the Strait are one family,” and “The Taiwan Compatriot Permit is a protective talisman.”

The DPP authorities have shown indifference to pleas for help from stranded Taiwan compatriots — cold, incapable, and inactive — yet they still repeatedly attack and smear the mainland’s care for and protection of Taiwan compatriots. That is truly shameless. As for who genuinely keeps Taiwan compatriots in mind, and who truly shelters them from hardship and danger, the facts are plain to see, and justice lives in the hearts of the people.

On March 14, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Chen Binhua answered reporters’ questions.

Lai Ching-te attended a so-called “30 Years of Direct Elections for the Taiwan Regional Leader and Democratic Resilience Symposium” today, where he openly claimed that the election demonstrated that “Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country.” He fabricated the fallacy that “democracy equals sovereignty,” played up the “mainland threat,” advocated “seeking independence through force,” and incited slogans such as “resist China, protect Taiwan” and “democracy versus authoritarianism.” A reporter asked for comment.

Chen Binhua said that Lai’s remarks were yet another carefully cobbled-together and packaged “Taiwan independence confession,” once again brazenly challenging the one-China principle and fully exposing Lai’s intransigent “Taiwan independence” nature and clearly malicious intentions.

He said Lai was using so-called “electoral democracy” to manufacture a basis for Taiwan’s non-existent “statehood,” fabricating a “Chinese threat to Taiwan,” clamoring about “defending sovereignty,” creating a false narrative of “democracy confronting authoritarianism,” and inciting cross-strait antagonism and confrontation. This, Chen said, completely distorts Taiwan’s history and departs from basic facts. Its purpose is to mislead the public, confuse the issue, stir up “resist China, protect Taiwan,” and pursue “independence through force” and “rejecting unification through force.” In essence, it undermines peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and pushes Taiwan toward war.

Chen said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and Taiwan is part of China—historically and legally clear. Although the two sides have not yet been fully reunified, China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been divided. Taiwan has never been a country and cannot become one; there is fundamentally no such thing as “sovereignty.” No matter how elections are held in the Taiwan region, or who is elected, it cannot change Taiwan’s status as part of China, cannot sever the unbreakable historical and legal ties across the Strait, and cannot overturn the iron rule that Taiwan’s future can only be decided jointly by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots. Differences in systems are not an obstacle to unification, still less an excuse for separation. “We will never allow anyone or any force to use democracy as a pretext to pursue a ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist agenda.” Chen warned that people like Lai should not miscalculate: if they dare to take reckless risks, they will bring about their own destruction.

Chen added that no matter what Lai says or does, he cannot change the basic trajectory of cross-strait relations, nor can he stop the historical trend that the motherland will eventually be reunified—and must be reunified. He said he hoped Taiwan compatriots would clearly recognize Lai and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces’ ambitions and selfish aims, uphold the greater national cause, stand on the right side of history, and join hands with them to oppose “Taiwan independence” separatist acts, firmly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and protect the shared homeland of the Chinese nation.

A reporter asked: Recently, the head of Taiwan’s administrative authorities, Cho Jung-tai, went to Japan to watch a ballgame, citing a so-called “private itinerary.” What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded: The DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to a “Taiwan independence” separatist position and will stop at nothing to “seek independence by relying on external forces.” They are, without question, “destroyers of cross-strait peace” and “makers of crises in the Taiwan Strait.” Leading figures of the DPP authorities, under the pretext of a “private itinerary,” are in reality carrying out “pro-independence” provocations—engaging in petty, underhanded tricks that are contemptible. We hope that Taiwan compatriots will clearly recognize the DPP authorities’ malicious intent and the harm of their “independence” agenda, and join with us in firmly opposing “Taiwan independence” separatist actions and external interference, effectively safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely protecting the shared homeland of the Chinese nation.

The Taiwan issue is purely China’s internal affair and brooks no external interference. By allowing leading figures of the DPP authorities to make such a visit, Japan has violated the one-China principle and the spirit of the four China–Japan political documents, violated international law and the basic norms of international relations, and sent a serious wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. We strongly oppose this. Japan should seriously reflect on history, draw lessons from it, genuinely correct its mistakes, and stop its maneuvering and reckless actions on the Taiwan issue.

At the March 4 State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, a reporter asked: The National “Two Sessions” (NPC and CPPCC) are about to convene. We’ve noticed that more and more Taiwan compatriots—especially Taiwan youth—say they are paying attention. What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded: The people’s congress system is China’s fundamental political system, and the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is one of China’s basic political systems. The National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are important platforms that centrally reflect and deeply practice whole-process people’s democracy. Today’s opening of the 4th session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, and tomorrow’s opening of the 4th session of the 14th National People’s Congress, are important meetings convened in the opening year of the “15th Five-Year Plan” period. The agenda includes discussing and reviewing the government work report and the outline of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” among other items; these meetings will sketch out the country’s development blueprint for the next five years and reveal the logic and direction of China’s future development.

Zhang added: By paying attention to and understanding the Two Sessions, Taiwan compatriots can better understand the mainland’s democratic political system and its economic and social development, experience the achievements of whole-process people’s democracy and Chinese-style modernization, and learn the country’s future development direction—thereby grasping opportunities for their own development. We hope Taiwan compatriots, including Taiwan youth, will actively participate in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation and in integrated development, jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and together create a bright future of national rejuvenation and the reunification of the motherland.

At the March 4 State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, a reporter asked: Recently, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our relevant embassies and consulates issued notices reminding Chinese citizens—including Taiwan compatriots—to evacuate as soon as possible, and said Taiwan compatriots who need to leave can register. However, the DPP authorities have falsely claimed that it is “risky” for Taiwan compatriots to seek evacuation assistance from the mainland. What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded: Taiwan compatriots are Chinese citizens; they are our flesh and blood, our close kin. From evacuations from Libya, Yemen, and Sudan, to the outbreak of the Israel–Palestine conflict, and when Taiwan compatriots overseas encountered dangers such as typhoons and earthquakes, we have maintained close contact with Taiwan compatriots on the ground and provided timely assistance. As always, we will take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, including Taiwan compatriots. If Taiwan compatriots need assistance, they can contact Chinese embassies and consulates locally at any time, or call the 12308 consular protection hotline. No matter where they are or what difficulties they face, the great motherland is the strong backing of Taiwan compatriots.

Zhang added: At this critical moment, when the safety of Taiwan compatriots is at stake, the DPP authorities are still engaging in political manipulation—losing their conscience and extinguishing their humanity. What they fear most is seeing “compatriots on both sides are one family, and true feelings show in hardship,” and they are doing everything they can to place their political schemes above people’s lives and safety. Their cold-bloodedness and selfishness are fully exposed, and they will inevitably face firm opposition from Taiwan compatriots.

At the March 4 State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) press briefing, a reporter asked: After the mainland disclosed that relatives of Liu Shifang hold positions in mainland enterprises and announced it would handle the matter in accordance with laws and regulations, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on the 28th issued its first “2026 Mainland China Economic Risk Warning.” It reminded Taiwanese businesspeople to carefully assess investment, operations, and work on the mainland to avoid economic losses and personal safety risks, and called on the mainland to “pull back from the brink.” What is your comment?

TAO spokesperson Zhang Han responded: Media reporting has already drawn widespread attention across Taiwan. At present, the key issue is that the DPP authorities must directly answer whether Liu Shifang’s relatives are seeking profits on the mainland, and whether there is “double standards” within the Green camp—on the one hand suppressing and participating in the persecution of people involved in cross-strait exchanges, while on the other hand using relatives on the mainland to “make money from China” (“earning red money”). Instead of shifting the focus and evading the question, they should address it head-on.

Zhang added: Our punitive measures target only a very small number of “Taiwan independence” diehard separatists and their affiliated companies and financial backers; they do not involve the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots or Taiwanese businesspeople and enterprises. The DPP authorities are deliberately muddying the waters and fabricating so-called “risks,” with the aim of intimidating Taiwan’s public, creating a “chilling effect,” and obstructing and undermining cross-strait exchanges and cooperation. Their “pro-independence” provocations have led to tension and turbulence in the Taiwan Strait; they have repeatedly cracked down on those who participate in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation; and they have a poor record of pushing “decoupling” and “cutting supply chains” across the Strait. The side that should “pull back from the brink” is the DPP authorities themselves.