At the December 31 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked for comment on remarks made by Lai Ching-te during a recent meeting with a visiting Japanese politician. Lai claimed that Taiwan and Japan both face issues such as the “expansion of authoritarianism” and “risks posed by red supply chains,” and expressed hope for deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

In response, Zhang Han, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that in order to gain external support for its pursuit of “independence,” the Lai Ching-te authorities are rehashing the old rhetoric of “democracy versus authoritarianism.” They turn a blind eye to the dangers posed by Japan’s right-wing forces as they move further down a path of militarism, showing unprincipled pro-Japan appeasement; they also ignore the plight of Taiwan’s high-tech industries being forcibly hollowed out by Western countries, and are selling out Taiwan without any bottom line.

The Lai Ching-te authorities’ attempts to “seek independence by relying on external forces” will inevitably be completely crushed.

At the December 31 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked for comment on the mainland Coast Guard once again entering the so-called “restricted waters” near Kinmen to conduct law-enforcement patrols. Taiwan’s maritime patrol authority claimed that “the mainland Coast Guard deliberately formed up to harass vessels, disregarded navigational safety, and created significant navigation risks for passing ships.”

In response, Zhang Han, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and that Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu are all parts of China; therefore, there is fundamentally no such thing as so-called “restricted waters.” Claims that the mainland “disregarded the navigational safety of passing vessels” are entirely groundless.

The mainland Coast Guard’s law-enforcement patrols in the relevant waters are carried out in accordance with the law and are precisely intended to maintain normal navigation and operational order in those waters, as well as to safeguard the lives and property of fishermen on both sides of the Strait.

For a long time, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have ignored the historical and objective facts of fishermen from both sides jointly operating in traditional fishing grounds. Their groundless detentions and even dangerous and rough treatment of mainland fishing vessels and fishermen are the real culprits creating navigation risks for passing ships and seriously threatening the lives and property of fishermen.

A reporter asked: The PLA Eastern Theater Command began the “Justice Mission–2025” exercise around Taiwan Island on December 29, involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and other units. Do you have any comment?

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, responded:

The PLA’s military actions are a stern warning to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and to external interference. They are a necessary and just measure to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Lai Ching-te administration engages in “Taiwan independence” activities, flatters external forces without principle, sells out Taiwan without restraint, and is willing to sacrifice Taiwan’s economic development and the livelihood of its people. It recklessly colludes with external forces to seek independence and provokes confrontation, plunging headlong down a dangerous path of militarization. Such actions have seriously damaged cross-Strait relations, gravely threatened peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and severely harmed the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of the Taiwan people.
We will never tolerate or condone any “Taiwan independence” actions—they will be firmly struck down.

Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. Any external force that attempts to interfere in the Taiwan question or meddle in China’s internal affairs will inevitably dash itself to pieces against the steel Great Wall of the PLA. The historic trend toward national reunification cannot be stopped. No one should underestimate our firm determination, strong will, or powerful capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

People on both sides of the Strait are one family. The military actions target “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference—not the people of Taiwan. The purpose is to curb separatist collusion with external forces that destabilizes the Taiwan Strait, and to fundamentally safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the core interests of the Chinese nation and the vital interests of Taiwan compatriots.

We hope that the people of Taiwan clearly recognize the extreme danger and harm of the Lai administration’s separatist course, and join us in resolutely opposing “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference, defending our shared national home, and creating a bright future of national reunification and national rejuvenation together.

At the December 24 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, the 2025 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit Annual Meeting was held in Nanjing and received widespread attention. Participants from both sides of the Strait held in-depth discussions on topics such as seizing the opportunities of the 15th Five-Year Plan and deepening the integration of cross-Strait industrial and supply chains, and they unanimously agreed that the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan will open up broader space for cross-Strait economic cooperation. What is your comment?

Spokesperson Peng Qing’en responded that this annual summit was a grand event for cross-Strait business exchange and cooperation, held at a pivotal moment as the mainland is about to enter the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. It is of great significance for Taiwan businesses and enterprises to seize the opportunities brought by the formulation and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, to accelerate integration into the new development paradigm, to participate in high-quality development, and to deepen the integration of cross-Strait industrial and supply chains.

Peng noted that Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, stated in his remarks at the summit that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has provided top-level design and strategic planning for development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. This will inject new momentum into promoting cross-Strait economic cooperation and shared development, and will open up new prospects for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the great cause of national reunification. He expressed hope that Taiwan compatriots and enterprises will make greater contributions to strengthening the economy of the Chinese nation and creating enduring prosperity for the Chinese people. This reflects our sincere goodwill in supporting Taiwan compatriots and enterprises in taking root and developing on the mainland, and points the way for their participation in high-quality development.

Peng added that during the summit, the question of how to seize the opportunities presented by the 15th Five-Year Plan and pursue joint development became a major focus of discussion among entrepreneurs from both sides of the Strait. Participants from various sectors and perspectives examined the development opportunities embedded in the 15th Five-Year Plan and engaged in substantive discussions on new pathways for cross-Strait economic cooperation through coordinated industrial, supply, innovation, and value chains. Many noted that through these exchanges, they gained deeper understanding of industrial layout and development priorities, and they plan to match needs more precisely and optimize industrial models in future cooperation to create conditions for deeper multi-chain integration.

Peng concluded that the mainland will, as always, actively support cross-Strait industrial cooperation, continuously improve policies and systems that promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepen cross-Strait integration, and help Taiwan businesses and enterprises seize the development opportunities of the 15th Five-Year Plan so they can better thrive on the mainland.