At the March 25 Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, a reporter asked: Lai Ching-te recently made remarks praising the “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” and portraying Japan’s colonial rule in Taiwan in a favorable light, triggering strong reaction in Taiwan’s public opinion. Experts and scholars on the island have listed atrocities committed by Japanese colonial authorities in Taiwan, including massacres and suppression campaigns, and criticized the Lai administration for distorting history, fawning over Japan, romanticizing colonialism, and creating hatred and division for the sake of party and personal interests. What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that it is well known that during the half century in which Japan occupied and colonially ruled Taiwan, it brutally suppressed the resistance of Taiwan compatriots, plundered Taiwan’s resources through policies such as “Taiwan for agriculture, Japan for industry,” and forcibly promoted the so-called “kominka” movement in an attempt to alter the national and ethnic identity of Taiwan’s people. She said these crimes were numerous and impossible to fully enumerate, brought profound disaster to the people of Taiwan, and marked the darkest page in Taiwan’s history. She added that large numbers of Taiwan compatriots fought one after another against Japanese invasion and colonial rule, and that hundreds of thousands paid with their blood and lives.

Zhu said that Lai Ching-te, in disregard of historical facts, has gone out of his way to whitewash and glorify Japanese colonial rule, which she described as a distortion of history, a desecration of the martyrs, and a betrayal of the nation. She said this once again exposes what she called his ugly essence of “fawning over Japan and selling out Taiwan” and his provocative pursuit of “independence.”

Zhu further stated that they will never allow anyone to defend colonialism or overturn the verdict on aggression, and will never allow certain external forces to intervene in the Taiwan issue or interfere in China’s internal affairs. She said compatriots on both sides of the Strait should forever remember the glorious history in which all Chinese people made enormous sacrifices to defeat brutal Japanese militarism and defended national sovereignty and dignity with their blood and lives. She called on both sides to firmly oppose “Taiwan independence” separatism and external interference, work together to advance the process of national reunification, and jointly create a bright future of national rejuvenation.

At the March 25 Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, a reporter asked: Regarding the mainland’s formulation of a law to promote ethnic unity and progress, Straits Exchange Foundation Secretary-General Lo Wen-chia said that the issue between the two sides of the Strait is a matter of “democracy,” that ethnicity is an issue of the past, while democracy is the issue of the present and the future, and that he hopes China will one day pass laws related to promoting democracy in China. What is your comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that compatriots on both sides of the Strait all belong to the Chinese nation and are all Chinese people. The natural bonds of affection and ethnic identity between them, rooted in shared blood and mutual support, cannot be changed by anyone. Taiwan’s future lies in national unification, and the well-being of Taiwan compatriots is tied to national rejuvenation.

Zhu said that recently the DPP authorities have continuously made irresponsible remarks about the law to promote ethnic unity and progress, spreading rumors and smearing it. Their purpose, she said, is to incite confrontation and antagonism across the Strait and create a “chilling effect” on the island. The issue between the two sides of the Strait, she said, is absolutely not a contest between political systems, but a struggle between unification and separatism. For the sake of its own one-party interests, she said, the DPP authorities, under the guise of “democracy,” have engaged in “green terror” and “Taiwan independence authoritarianism” on the island, abused the judiciary to suppress and persecute political opponents, and repeatedly trampled on democracy, obstructed freedom, and damaged the rule of law. She asked how they could possibly have the standing to speak about “democracy.”

Zhu added that the founding purpose of the Straits Exchange Foundation is to be “Chinese, benevolent, and service-oriented.” She said she hopes it will not forget that purpose, engage in less malicious political manipulation, and do more that benefits the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and improves the welfare of people on both sides of the Strait.

At the March 25 Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, a reporter asked: Agriculture is one of the earliest-starting, broadest-based, and most productive areas of cross-Strait exchange and cooperation. This March marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the “22 Measures for Agriculture and Forestry.” Could you introduce the concrete results these policies have achieved over the past five years? Some people in Taiwan’s agricultural sector have pointed out that the 15th Five-Year Plan provides new opportunities for cross-Strait agricultural cooperation. Do you have any comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that, in March 2021, the Taiwan Affairs Office, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and other departments jointly issued the “Several Measures to Support the Development of Taiwan Compatriots and Taiwan-Funded Enterprises in the Mainland’s Agriculture and Forestry Sectors” (abbreviated as the “22 Measures for Agriculture and Forestry”). Over the past five years, localities have continued to tailor implementation to local conditions, steadily refining and carrying out these policies to support Taiwanese farmers and enterprises in achieving better development on the mainland. She then introduced several examples.

Zhu said, first, land-use support has become more robust. Local governments have strictly implemented the provisions in the “22 Measures for Agriculture and Forestry” concerning the transfer of land-use management rights and the management of land for agricultural facilities, streamlined approval procedures, shortened processing times, and optimized land-use services. For example, over the past five years Gansu has helped Taiwan-funded enterprises transfer more than 10,000 mu of land; Zhejiang has innovated a “standard land” supply model and assisted several Taiwan-funded enterprises in obtaining land-use approvals; and Fujian has built a province-wide forest rights trading platform and digital system that provides entities including Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises with information publishing, policy consultation, and transaction guidance for forest-rights transfers.

Second, financial support has become stronger. Local governments have promoted equal access for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises to pro-agriculture support policies, various subsidies, and more convenient financing. For example, Xinjiang has helped Taiwan-funded agricultural enterprises obtain more than RMB 10 million in subsidies, awards, and equity investment; Fujian has innovatively established a cross-border credit information service platform and issued financial credit certificates for Taiwanese businesspeople and Taiwan compatriots, allowing certificate holders to access convenient financial services such as higher credit limits, lower loan interest rates, reduced fees, and green channels; and Hainan, Chongqing, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu have introduced financial services such as biological resource collateral loans, government risk compensation funds, special agricultural loans for Taiwanese farmers, and other rural credit programs to broaden financing channels.

Third, platform construction has become more diversified. By the end of 2025, among the 36 Taiwan Farmer Entrepreneurship Parks approved in 14 provinces, 10 had also been approved for construction as modern agricultural industrial parks. Their industrial clustering effects and spillover benefits have become increasingly apparent, making them centers where Taiwanese farmers and Taiwan compatriots can put down roots and develop on the mainland. Relevant departments have also established a Cross-Strait Rural Integrated Development Pilot Zone in Sanming, Fujian, and supported the holding of rural integration development forums to explore pathways for cooperation in rural industry, rural construction, and rural governance, thereby building new platforms and creating new opportunities for exchanges and cooperation among practitioners and scholars on both sides of the Strait.

Fourth, integrated development has deepened further. Taiwan compatriots have been supported in participating in honorary selection and recognition programs, and three Taiwan compatriots — Xie Dongqing, Wu Yunzhen, and Guo Yangfu — were recognized as notable “Three Rural” figures. Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises have also been encouraged to participate in mainland rural revitalization. Ningxia, Heilongjiang, and Inner Mongolia have incubated and cultivated a number of benchmark Taiwan-funded agricultural processing enterprises; over the past five years Fujian has cumulatively invested RMB 687 million to support Taiwanese youth participation in rural construction and rural innovation; Zhejiang has invited Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises to help create rural planning demonstration projects such as Jinhua’s “Taipei Village”; Hainan has implemented a policy allowing Taiwan-funded enterprises to enjoy the Hainan Free Trade Port’s “zero tariff” treatment for self-use production equipment; and Guangdong and Fujian have encouraged Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises to participate jointly in drafting technical standards.

Zhu further noted that this year marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for “accelerating agricultural and rural modernization and solidly advancing comprehensive rural revitalization,” and systematically lays out key tasks such as enhancing agricultural production capacity, quality, and efficiency; advancing the construction of livable, workable, and beautiful villages; and improving the effectiveness of policies that strengthen, benefit, and enrich agriculture. These measures, she said, provide many opportunities for Taiwanese farmers and Taiwan compatriots to participate in the mainland’s high-quality development.

She added that the mainland is willing to take the lead in sharing development opportunities in the agriculture and forestry sectors with Taiwan compatriots, further improve policies and measures that enhance Taiwan compatriots’ welfare and allow them to enjoy equal treatment, and create better conditions for Taiwanese farmers and Taiwan-funded enterprises to develop on the mainland. She said the mainland welcomes more Taiwanese farmers and Taiwan-funded enterprises to invest and start businesses there, share opportunities, and pursue development together.

At the March 25 Taiwan Affairs Office press conference, a reporter asked: Recently, a Taiwanese tech blogger attended Apple’s spring product launch event in Shanghai and posted a short video saying, “Happiness really is this simple.” He also ate pan-fried buns he had been craving for a long time and ordered a favorite coffee drink. The post drew attention from netizens on both sides of the Strait, and many mainland netizens commented with suggestions such as “you need to learn how to use delivery apps to get coupons.” Earlier, a Taiwanese media personality also shared impressions from a first visit to Chengdu on social media, praising the pandas as very cute, local restaurant service as excellent, prices as inexpensive, and the food as abundant and delicious. Do you have any comment on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that, recently, a number of Taiwanese internet personalities active on social media have shared what they saw and experienced while visiting the mainland, and their followers and fans have responded enthusiastically. She said this is a good thing for enhancing mutual understanding and exchanges between people on both sides of the Strait.

Zhu said that they have repeatedly stated that they warmly welcome broad numbers of Taiwan compatriots, including internet influencers and media workers, to come to the mainland to look around and see for themselves. People can check in at landscapes across the mainland, including mountains, plateaus, plains, coastlines, and glaciers; they can also experience the everyday life of cities and villages where tradition and modernity are blended; they can study and pursue further education at more than 500 mainland universities; and they can intern, work, and start businesses in a wide range of sectors in order to realize their life ambitions.

She added that they will continue creating more convenient conditions for Taiwan compatriots, especially Taiwanese youth, to come to the mainland, and that they hope more and more Taiwan compatriots will want to come to the mainland, enjoy coming to the mainland, and come often, in pursuit of a different kind of life experience.

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a reporter asked: The Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. How should the section specifically related to Taiwan be interpreted? How will the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council implement it?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: On March 12, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress voted to adopt the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development. The outline provides top-level design and strategic planning for Taiwan-related work during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and clarifies the objectives and tasks of promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advancing the great cause of national reunification in the course of building a modern socialist power in all respects. The outline clearly states that it is necessary to thoroughly implement the Party’s overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era, adhere to the one-China principle and the “1992 Consensus,” firmly crack down on “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, oppose interference by external forces, safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, firmly grasp the dominance and initiative in cross-Strait relations, improve the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, and resolutely safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation.

In terms of specific measures, first is promoting cross-Strait economic cooperation. This includes continuing to introduce and implement policies and measures benefiting Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises, guiding them to actively integrate into and serve the new development pattern, supporting Taiwan businesses in establishing long-term roots on the mainland, participating in national regional development strategies and the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening industrial cooperation, and building a common cross-Strait market. It also includes supporting Fujian in high-quality construction of a demonstration zone for cross-Strait integrated development, advancing key cross-Strait cooperation platforms and industrial cooperation zones in places such as Pingtan, Kunshan, and Dongguan, supporting the development of multi-level cross-Strait financial markets, and encouraging qualified Taiwan-funded enterprises to list on the mainland.

Second is deepening cross-Strait exchanges. This includes improving systems and policies that promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, expanding personnel exchanges, and promoting interaction, engagement, and integration across the Strait. It also includes deepening cooperation in education, healthcare, social security, and the sharing of public resources; promoting cultural exchanges across the Strait; jointly preserving and promoting Chinese culture; and enhancing Taiwan compatriots’ identification with the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, and the Chinese state. It also calls for strengthening exchanges among youth and at the grassroots level, continuing to create better conditions for young people from Taiwan to pursue, build, and realize their dreams on the mainland, implementing equal-treatment policies for Taiwan compatriots, creating better conditions for them to study, work, and live on the mainland, and uniting the broad mass of Taiwan compatriots to create enduring well-being for the Chinese nation.

We will thoroughly implement the Party’s overall strategy for resolving the Taiwan question in the new era and, in accordance with the requirements of the 15th Five-Year Plan outline, unite the broad mass of Taiwan compatriots, grasp the trend of history, and actively promote the peaceful development and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, working together for the great cause of national reunification and national rejuvenation.

At the March 18 press conference of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, a question was raised that, due to recent instability in the Middle East, Taiwan faces the risk of disruptions to oil and natural gas supplies, and concerns over energy reserves and supply security have become a major issue on the island. This has also drawn renewed attention to the mainland’s statement last October about the “seven ways Taiwan would be better off after unification,” including the claim that “after peaceful unification, with the strong motherland as its backing, Taiwan’s energy and resource security will be better.” Could you elaborate on this?

Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua responded: Achieving unification by peaceful means is in the greatest interest of compatriots on both sides of the Strait and of the Chinese nation as a whole. Peaceful unification would create enormous opportunities for Taiwan’s economic and social development and bring tangible benefits to the broad mass of Taiwan compatriots. This includes stronger guarantees for Taiwan’s energy and resource security with the support of a powerful motherland.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the mainland developed a multi-driver energy supply system based on coal, oil, gas, nuclear power, and renewable energy. Traditional energy production has remained stable and increased, while new energy sources have been fully utilized and their share has risen rapidly, with wind and solar power now accounting for about 22 percent of total electricity consumption. Investment has also expanded in new forms of energy infrastructure such as new-type energy storage, frontier hydrogen energy, virtual power plants, and charging and battery-swapping facilities. The mainland’s capacity to guarantee energy supply has strong resilience and broad potential. Taking electricity as an example, major countries around the world are now developing artificial intelligence and related industries, and the growth of the AI sector depends heavily on a stable power supply. The mainland has already built the world’s largest clean power supply system, with an average electricity reliability rate of over 99.9 percent. In 2025, total electricity consumption surpassed 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time, exceeding the combined electricity use of the United States, Germany, Japan, and India. In both July and August, monthly electricity consumption exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours, setting a world record, yet there were neither power cuts nor price increases. Power on that scale, fully supplied, would be enough to meet the electricity needs of Taiwan businesses and would also allow households across Taiwan to put an end to the inconvenience and anxiety of summer electricity shortages and rationing.

The recently concluded Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress reviewed and approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The outline makes strategic arrangements for accelerating a comprehensive green transformation in economic and social development and for building a Beautiful China during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. We will accelerate the construction of a new energy system, continuously strengthen the foundations of energy and resource security, and keep advancing the building of an energy powerhouse. After peaceful unification, the two sides of the Strait will achieve connectivity wherever possible and full interconnection where appropriate. This will make it entirely possible to make up for Taiwan’s shortages in electricity, natural gas, crude oil, and other resources, providing reliable guarantees for Taiwan’s energy and resource security, allowing Taiwan compatriots to enjoy cheaper, cleaner, and more stable energy supplies, and reducing the energy burden on households and businesses.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen once said: “Unification is the hope of all Chinese citizens. If unification can be achieved, the whole nation will enjoy happiness; if it cannot, the nation will suffer.” We are willing to provide Taiwan compatriots with stable and reliable guarantees for energy and resource supplies, so that they may live better lives. We hope that compatriots in Taiwan and on the mainland will work together to create a better future of national unification and national rejuvenation.

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.