'Status quo' Taiwan remarks draw rebuke

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the United States said on Monday that "Taiwan independence" is a dead end and would only bring disaster to the people in the Taiwan region, and that any attempt to justify separatist moves under the pretext of "democracy" is doomed to failure.

In an opinion piece published in USA Today on Jan 14, and in an interview with The Associated Press on Jan 18, the representative of the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States" highlighted the "democracy versus authoritarianism" rhetoric, advocated the maintenance of the cross-Strait "status quo", and claimed that Taiwan will continue to strengthen its security and economic ties with the U.S.

"The remarks are misleading and have distorted the truth," the embassy spokesperson said in a statement. "The Taiwan question has nothing to do with democracy, but bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

When it comes to "democracy", the "sincere desire and firm will" of the 1.4 billion Chinese people for national reunification is the true and greatest democracy, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that by using "democracy" as a pretext, the "Taiwan independence" forces are trying to stoke confrontation and antagonism across the Taiwan Strait, justify their provocative moves in pushing forward separatism, and cover up their hidden agenda of splitting the country apart.

"But such attempts are doomed to failure," the statement said.

Echoing a Foreign Ministry comment on the result of the election in the Taiwan region on Jan 13, the spokesperson said the result cannot change the dynamics and direction of cross-Strait relations.

Nor can it hold back the prevailing trend that China will and must achieve reunification, the spokesperson added.

In terms of the status quo of the Taiwan question, the spokesperson said there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

The spokesperson further noted that Taiwan's return to China is a component of the post-World War II international order, and the one-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations with China and a prevailing international consensus.

"Facts have proved that the 'Taiwan independence' forces and external forces colluding with them are the root causes of cross-Strait tensions in recent years and the fundamental threat to peace and stability across the Strait," the spokesperson said.

For example, the first fundamental principle of the party platform of the Democratic Progressive Party is to seek "Taiwan independence", according to the spokesperson's statement.

The statement also said that whoever pushes for "Taiwan independence" will be splitting Chinese territory and will surely be judged harshly by history and law, and whoever goes against the one-China principle will be interfering in China's internal affairs and violating China's sovereignty, and will surely be opposed by the Chinese people and the international community.

No one should "underestimate the determination, resolve and capability of the Chinese people in safeguarding our sovereignty and territorial integrity", the statement added.