At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked about the 2025 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit, which has taken place over the past two days in Nanjing. Could the spokesperson provide an overview?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that the 2025 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, from December 16 to 17. Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the opening ceremony, delivered remarks, and met with representatives of entrepreneurs from both sides of the Strait. Chairman Wang emphasized that people on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese, and that the economies on both sides are part of the broader economy of the Chinese nation. When the nation thrives and the country is strong, people on both sides of the Strait will live even better. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, China’s modernization drive will usher in a new chapter, continuing the dual miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. He expressed hope that Taiwan compatriots and enterprises would seize the opportunities of the times and work together to create lasting prosperity for the Chinese nation.

Approximately 800 participants—including council members and members of the Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit, entrepreneurs from both sides of the Strait, and relevant experts and scholars—attended the annual meeting. Centered on the theme “Focusing on Transformation and Innovation, Deepening Multi-Chain Cooperation,” the discussions addressed topics such as how Taiwan businesses can seize the opportunities presented by the formulation and implementation of the “15th Five-Year Plan,” accelerate integration into the new development paradigm, participate in high-quality development, and deepen the integration of cross-Strait industrial and supply chains. Representatives of Taiwan’s business community expressed strong confidence in the mainland’s development and stated that they would continue to actively participate in cross-Strait economic exchanges and cooperation.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: The DPP authorities have imposed a one-year provisional “ban” on Xiaohongshu under the pretext of responding to an “emergency fraud-prevention situation,” which has been criticized as an “illegal expansion of powers” and has triggered strong backlash on the island. Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior and Mainland Affairs Council claim that the action is a “lawful, general emergency measure” and unrelated to cross-Strait policy or relations. What is your comment?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian of the Taiwan Affairs Office responded that the DPP authorities’ explanation is extremely weak and unconvincing. According to media reports on the island, Facebook was involved in nearly 60,000 fraud-related cases last year in Taiwan, and the number has already exceeded 30,000 this year—far more than the so-called “cases” the DPP claims Xiaohongshu is involved in. The DPP authorities’ deliberate targeting of Xiaohongshu for such a crude ban is entirely a politically manipulative act marked by double standards. Their so-called “anti-fraud” justification is nothing more than a pretext; the real intention is to pursue “Taiwan independence,” deliberately stoke “anti-China, protect Taiwan” sentiment, block channels of cross-Strait exchange, and deprive the people of Taiwan—especially young people—of their right to access information and their freedom to use social media platforms. These malicious actions have already provoked strong dissatisfaction and opposition from the people of Taiwan, particularly its youth.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, the 2025 Cross-Strait “Character of the Year” was announced in Taipei. Netizens from across the Strait and overseas enthusiastically participated, with total votes exceeding 15.82 million. The character “势” (“momentum,” “trend,” or “force”) was selected as the 2025 Cross-Strait Character of the Year with over 1.28 million votes. What is your comment?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that the selection of the character “势” by a high number of netizens—especially compatriots on both sides of the Strait—reflects a shared perception of the pulse of the times. It signifies that the historic trend of national reunification and national rejuvenation is surging forward with great momentum and cannot be stopped.

The choice of “势” is the simplest way for people on both sides of the Strait to add a footnote to the reunification process in the new era: Reunification is the just and prevailing trend, and it will inevitably converge into an unstoppable tide of the times. From the perspective of the historical principle that “the trend of the times cannot be resisted,” resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people and an essential requirement for realizing national rejuvenation. A growing number of Taiwan compatriots, upholding the greater national interest, are actively participating in the great cause of national rejuvenation and demonstrating through action that “people on both sides of the Strait are one family.” From the perspective of the “unstoppable momentum” of popular will, more and more Taiwan compatriots recognize the destructive nature of the “Taiwan independence” forces—how they harm Taiwan, endanger Taiwan, and bring ruin to Taiwan—and firmly oppose separatism and external interference in defense of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. From the perspective of the mission to “act in accordance with the trend,” we continue to deepen cross-Strait economic and social integration, roll out policies that benefit Taiwan compatriots, and advance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in a deeper and more pragmatic way, enabling Taiwan compatriots and enterprises to share development opportunities, strengthen emotional bonds, and build a more solid, more favorable, and more dynamic foundation for reunification.

As compatriots in Taiwan have said: Choosing “势” is choosing hope, choosing the future! This hope is the aspiration to “ride the momentum” and jointly realize the Chinese Dream; this future is the vision of “gathering momentum into a tide” to jointly promote reunification. We will unite with our Taiwan compatriots, follow the trend of history, enhance shared benefits through exchanges and cooperation, strengthen emotional bonds through integrated development, and together build the powerful force driving national reunification and rejuvenation, opening a vast new chapter for the Chinese nation.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: On December 18, the Hainan Free Trade Port will officially begin island-wide customs closure operations. This is a landmark step in the mainland’s unwavering commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and promoting the development of an open world economy, and it has attracted great interest from Taiwan businesses and enterprises. What opportunities and benefits will this bring to them?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that beginning on December 18, 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port will officially launch island-wide customs closure operations. This is a landmark measure demonstrating the mainland’s firm commitment to high-level opening-up and to fostering an open world economy.

After the customs closure, the Hainan Free Trade Port will fully implement the special regulatory framework of “free flow across the first line, effective control at the second line, and freedom within the island.” Tax incentives centered on “zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a simplified tax system” will fully release their benefits—reducing production costs, boosting development vitality, improving the quality of consumer supply, and supporting the creation of an international tourism and consumption center. At the same time, trade management will become more relaxed and convenient, regulatory practices more precise and efficient, and a series of innovative measures in areas such as trade liberalization, investment facilitation, and financial openness will bring more opportunities and advantages to Taiwan businesses and enterprises.

Taiwan-invested companies can leverage the institutional advantages of the Free Trade Port to expand their space for development in Hainan, achieve new growth, better integrate into the country’s new development paradigm, and share in the new opportunities presented by the Free Trade Port.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: The DPP authorities plan to amend the “Permit Regulations for Civil Servants and Certain Designated Personnel of the Taiwan Area Entering the Mainland.” The amendment would restrict travel by county and city leaders and certain civil servants, reducing the degree of kinship required for approval to visit the mainland for family visits or funerals from within four degrees of kinship to within three, and requiring most senior civil servants and police officers to apply seven days in advance before traveling to the mainland. What is your comment?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that this is yet another malicious act by the DPP authorities to obstruct, restrict, and suppress cross-Strait exchanges and interactions. The DPP authorities go to great lengths to hinder Taiwan compatriots from coming to the mainland, fabricate charges to repress individuals and groups in Taiwan who actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges, and attempt to block compatriots on both sides of the Strait from drawing closer to one another. Such abuses of power and reckless behavior will inevitably be spurned by public opinion.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Some Taiwanese performing artists have been labeled “pro-China entertainers” because of statements they made about their identity. Taiwan’s cultural authorities have claimed that “pro-China” is a false issue and said they are pleased to see Taiwanese artists develop careers on the mainland, but that they must not “cooperate” in expressing pro-“forceful reunification” views. We have also observed that in recent years, not only have many Taiwanese artists come to the mainland to pursue development, but the mainland’s rich variety of cultural performances has attracted many young people from Taiwan to cross the Strait to attend concerts and follow their favorite performers. What is your comment?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian responded that the DPP authorities’ threats and intimidation of Taiwanese artists under the pretext of so-called “investigations” are completely out of step with public sentiment, and they cannot stop Taiwan compatriots from taking part in cross-Strait exchanges or from sharing in the development opportunities on the mainland. For many years, generations of Taiwanese performers have helped to inherit and promote Chinese culture, actively participated in cross-Strait exchange and cooperation, and demonstrated through concrete actions that “people on both sides of the Strait are one family.” In the past two years, the mainland’s performance market has grown explosively; in just the third quarter of this year, more than 1,000 concerts were held with over 12 million attendees, and Taiwanese artists held over 100 solo concerts on the mainland. The mainland offers a broad stage for Taiwanese performers, and their participation has enriched the mainland’s performance market. This “two-way exchange” in the cultural and artistic sphere has deepened cross-Strait cultural interaction.

In addition, traveling across cities on the mainland to hear a favorite song or follow a concert tour has become a new lifestyle trend among many Taiwan compatriots. We actively support cross-Strait cultural exchange and cooperation in film, television, music, and other fields. We welcome Taiwanese performing artists to come to the mainland to participate in all kinds of cultural performance activities, and we also welcome Taiwan compatriots to make full use of increasingly convenient policies to visit the mainland at any time to attend cultural events and experience the vibrant cultural and tourism life here.

At the December 17 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Lai Ching-te recently proposed a USD 40 billion special budget to purchase military equipment from the United States. The New York Times recently revealed details from a classified U.S. Department of Defense report indicating that mainland China already possesses sufficient missile capabilities to destroy U.S. advanced weaponry before it could reach Taiwan—suggesting that the United States is no longer capable of “defending Taiwan.” What is your comment?

Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian of the Taiwan Affairs Office responded that the Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, and resolving it is a matter for the Chinese people alone, allowing no external interference. The Lai Ching-te administration, for the selfish interests of its party, continues to provoke “Taiwan independence,” repeatedly increases the defense budget, and pushes a “whole-of-society militarization,” tying the people of Taiwan to the separatist bandwagon. Its attempts to “rely on foreign forces to seek independence” and “use force to seek independence” threaten the safety and interests of the Taiwan people. “Taiwan independence” is a dead end; outsiders cannot be relied upon; reunification cannot be stopped. We have firm will, strong determination, and powerful capability to crush all separatist schemes for “Taiwan independence,” to resolutely oppose external interference, and to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.