Q: Lai Ching-te recently gave an interview to Bloomberg Businessweek, where he spoke for “Taiwan independence”. What’s your comment?

A: There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Taiwan question is completely China’s internal affair that brooks no external interference.

Lai Ching-te, driven by his own political agenda, makes no secret of his pursuit of “Taiwan independence”. His separatist propaganda undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He is a troublemaker writ large. His so-called “maintaining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait” actually means “peaceful separation” and “one China, one Taiwan”. He talked about “standing shoulder to shoulder with democracies”, which is his facade of seeking foreign support for independence agenda. The fundamental cause of tension across the Strait is Taiwan authorities’ attempt to solicit US support for “Taiwan independence” and that some in the US are using Taiwan to contain China. “Taiwan independence” has no outlet. Seeking independence in collusion with external forces will end in failure.

China has made its position clear on Lai’s so-called “stopover” in the US. Despite China’s solemn representations, the US went ahead to arrange for Lai’s “stopover”. China deplores and strongly condemns such decision. We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, honor its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” or “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan”, stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan, stop conniving at and supporting “Taiwan independence” separatist forces and their activities, and stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle. China will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.