At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, spokesperson Chen Binhua provided an update on the preparations for the 2025 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit Annual Meeting.

Chen Binhua stated that the 2025 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs Summit Annual Meeting will be held from December 16 to 17 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Focusing on Transformation and Innovation, Deepening Multi-Chain Cooperation.” The discussions will center on seizing the opportunities presented by the formulation and implementation of the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, helping Taiwan businesses integrate into the new development pattern, and deepening cross-Strait industrial- and supply-chain integration. Approximately 800 participants—including members of the summit council, general members, entrepreneurs from both sides of the Strait, as well as relevant experts and scholars—are expected to attend the event.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked about the recent release by Fujian Province of the fifth batch of policy measures implementing the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Fujian in Exploring a New Path for Integrated Cross-Strait Development and Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. The reporter requested an overview of the relevant situation.

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that on December 2, Fujian Province issued the fifth batch of policy measures implementing the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Supporting Fujian in Exploring a New Path for Integrated Cross-Strait Development and Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone (hereinafter referred to as “the Opinions”). These measures cover 12 specific initiatives across three areas: supporting the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises and Taiwan businesspeople; optimizing tax-related services for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan businesses; and promoting cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in commerce, trade, culture, and tourism. They include increasing land and sea use guarantees, launching intelligent tax-service platforms, and supporting Taiwan compatriots in opening Shaxian snack shops in Taiwan, among others. This batch of measures actively responds to the needs of Taiwan compatriots and businesses; it is concrete, pragmatic, and effective, and will further accelerate the establishment of a new, province-wide integrated development framework in Fujian.

Chen Binhua noted that since the Opinions were released in September 2023, Fujian Province has issued four previous batches containing 62 measures. Together with the 12 measures released this time, a total of 74 measures have now been introduced. These policies have produced significant results, with Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan businesses continuing to experience a growing sense of benefit, and they have received broad recognition and positive responses from various sectors on both sides of the Strait.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: The mainland social media platform Xiaohongshu (RED) has over 3 million users in Taiwan, 70% of whom were born in the 1990s. It has become a commonly used and much-loved platform among people in Taiwan, especially the youth. On December 4, the DPP authorities announced a one-year “provisional ban” on Xiaohongshu, citing reasons such as “multiple cybersecurity indicators failing to meet standards” and “frequent scams.” What is the spokesperson’s comment on this?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua replied that this reminds him of a famous line from Zuo Zhuan, Duke Huan Year 10: “A man without guilt becomes guilty because he carries a valuable jade.” It is well known that Xiaohongshu is a social platform positioned as a “lifestyle-interest community,” and its rich, diverse, lifestyle-oriented content; youth-friendly community atmosphere; and convenient interactive features have made it very popular among the public in Taiwan, especially young people. Through Xiaohongshu, they learn about the mainland’s real situation and interact warmly and amicably with mainland users. This has caused the “information cocoon” deliberately created by the DPP authorities—and their attempts to smear and demonize the mainland—to collapse and fail. This is why the DPP authorities are feeling threatened, embarrassed, and enraged. The so-called “cybersecurity concerns” they cited only reveal their own inner fear and insecurity.

Chen Binhua continued that as for the so-called “anti-fraud” justification, reports from Taiwan’s own media show that Facebook was involved in nearly 60,000 fraud cases on the island last year, and more than 30,000 cases already this year—far exceeding the number of cases the DPP authorities accuse Xiaohongshu of being involved in. Therefore, under the banner of “anti-fraud,” what the DPP authorities are actually doing is “anti-democracy.” Their overbearing actions trample on democracy and undermine freedom, crudely stripping the people of Taiwan—especially the youth—of their right to access information and their freedom to use social media platforms, and severely harming the livelihoods of those in Taiwan who depend on Xiaohongshu for income.

Chen Binhua added that from blocking mainland e-commerce platforms and video platforms to now banning mainland social platforms, the DPP has indeed become the “people-blocking party” that stands against ordinary citizens. Anything widely used by the people of Taiwan must be banned; anything loved by Taiwan’s youth must be blocked. “He who commits many injustices will bring about his own downfall.” The DPP authorities, acting recklessly and willfully, will ultimately suffer the consequences. Their retrograde actions cannot stop the people of Taiwan—especially the youth—from wanting to understand the mainland and deepen exchanges and mutual understanding with their compatriots across the Strait.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Lai Ching-te recently stated in an interview with The New York Times that Taiwan’s economic growth rate this year reached 7.37%. He also claimed that he would be “happy to help China and work together to solve the various economic problems China is facing,” and expressed hope that the mainland “should not think about how to expand its territory, but rather think about how to better take care of the Chinese people.” What is the spokesperson’s response?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that Lai Ching-te is talking nonsense and overestimating himself, attempting to mislead public opinion and deceive the public by playing games with numbers.

Chen Binhua stated that since the beginning of this year, the mainland’s major economic indicators have performed well. New productive forces have been actively developing, reform and opening up have continued to deepen, and the economy has demonstrated strong vitality and resilience. In the first three quarters, the mainland’s GDP exceeded 101.5 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.2% year-on-year, with growth of about 4 trillion yuan—an amount equivalent to more than 80% of Taiwan’s total annual economic output. It is expected that Taiwan’s GDP this year will be lower than that of many provinces on the mainland. “I truly don’t know where Lai Ching-te gets his confidence from,” Chen said.

Chen Binhua continued that in order to “rely on external forces to seek independence,” Lai Ching-te has been forcing cross-Strait “decoupling and supply-chain severing” in violation of economic principles, ignoring the hollowing out of Taiwan’s key industries by external forces and turning a blind eye to the serious difficulties facing Taiwan’s traditional industries. His efforts to curry favor with outside forces will only further harm Taiwan and sell out its interests.

Chen Binhua emphasized that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory. Resolving the Taiwan question and achieving complete national reunification is the shared aspiration of all Chinese people. The economies on both sides of the Strait are part of the same national economy. We have always upheld the concept of “both sides of the Strait are one family,” committed to strengthening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, deepening integrated development, and sharing with Taiwan compatriots and enterprises the opportunities brought by China’s modernization.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Recently, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce stated that during U.S.–Taiwan tariff negotiations, the U.S. is seeking more than USD 300 billion in investment from Taiwan and assistance in training American semiconductor workers, with the ultimate goal of relocating Taiwan’s entire semiconductor supply chain to the United States. In response, netizens in Taiwan criticized the DPP authorities as “hopeless,” and public opinion pointed out that together with the USD 40 billion in military purchases promised by Lai Ching-te, the savings accumulated over three generations in Taiwan are about to be exhausted. What is the spokesperson’s response?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that the Lai Ching-te administration, in order to “rely on external forces to seek independence,” has shown bottomless eagerness to curry favor with the United States. In the tariff negotiations, they “knelt before even negotiating” and “turned the other cheek after being slapped,” and have repeatedly deceived the public. In terms of industry, they have allowed the United States to take whatever it wants, voluntarily giving up TSMC and letting it drain the value of Taiwan’s advantageous industries. Previously, TSMC was forced to announce an additional USD 100 billion investment in the United States, which already caused panic within Taiwan’s business community and widespread public resentment. If the USD 300 billion investment is carried out, it will inevitably have a huge impact on Taiwan’s economy, further weakening Taiwan’s economic momentum and autonomy. We are deeply concerned about this. We hope the people of Taiwan and all those with insight from various sectors will unite and take action to firmly oppose the Lai Ching-te administration’s pro-U.S. behavior and actively safeguard their own interests.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Taiwan’s foreign affairs authorities recently claimed that “the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other,” and that after World War II, the “San Francisco Peace Treaty” replaced the Potsdam Proclamation and the Cairo Declaration, asserting that “the People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan for even a single day—this is a historical fact.” What is the spokesperson’s response?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that the so-called “San Francisco Peace Treaty” was a product concocted by the United States together with a very small number of countries after World War II in a separate peace with Japan. The treaty violated the 1942 Declaration by United Nations, which stipulated that “no signatory government shall make a separate armistice or peace with the enemy,” and it also violated the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which states that a treaty may not create obligations or rights for a third state without that state’s consent. Therefore, it had no authority to determine the disposition of Taiwan’s sovereignty or any sovereign rights and territory involving China, which was not a party to the treaty. It is illegal and invalid, and carries no effect under international law. From the outset, the Chinese government has solemnly declared a firm stance of absolutely not recognizing it.

Chen Binhua stated that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is a part of China. A series of international legal documents, including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation, clearly and unequivocally affirm China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China replacing the “Government of the Republic of China” was a change of government under an unaltered international legal subject—China—and did not change Taiwan’s status as part of China’s territory. By invoking an invalid treaty to once again recycle the worn-out cliché of the two sides of the Strait being “not subordinate to each other,” the DPP authorities are attempting to confuse the public, mislead opinion, and challenge the internationally recognized one-China principle. This completely disregards the facts and will only bring disgrace upon themselves.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently stated that Japan’s basic position on the Taiwan issue is consistent with the China–Japan Joint Statement and has not changed in any way. Netizens in Taiwan mocked that “Lai Ching-te’s Japanese meals were eaten for nothing.” What is the spokesperson’s comment?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already expressed China’s stern position on this matter. I would like to reiterate that the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair and brooks no foreign interference. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi publicly made erroneous remarks about Taiwan in Japan’s parliament, crudely interfering in China’s internal affairs. Faced with questions and criticism from China and the international community, Takaichi brushed things off by simply claiming that “Japan’s position has not changed.” We cannot accept this. Japan should seriously reflect and immediately retract its erroneous comments.

Chen Binhua added that Lai Ching-te, driven by his malicious intention to seek “Taiwan independence,” catered to Takaichi’s erroneous remarks, completely abandoning any national standpoint. His pro-Japan behavior is contemptible and utterly futile.

At the December 10 press conference of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, a reporter asked: The United States recently released its National Security Strategy report, mentioning Taiwan eight times and declaring that it “does not support any unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.” Lai Ching-te stated that he appreciates the U.S. listing the prevention of conflict in the Taiwan Strait as a priority and that Taiwan will continue to act as a reliable partner, firmly committed to strengthening its self-defense and maintaining regional peace. What is the spokesperson’s response?

Spokesperson Chen Binhua of the Taiwan Affairs Office replied that the Taiwan question is entirely China’s internal affair, and resolving it is a matter for the Chinese people alone, not subject to any external interference. The DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to a separatist “Taiwan independence” position and continually collude with external forces to provoke and pursue independence. This is the root cause of tension and instability in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. should faithfully abide by the one-China principle and the three China–U.S. joint communiqués, honor the solemn political commitments made by U.S. leaders, handle the Taiwan question with the utmost prudence, stop condoning and supporting “Taiwan independence” forces in seeking independence by military means, and stop sending any erroneous signals to separatist forces.

Chen Binhua warned the DPP authorities that attempts to seek “Taiwan independence” by relying on external forces or by using force are doomed to fail.