Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te is making irresponsible claims and overestimating his abilities, attempting to mislead public opinion and deceive the people by playing number games.

The remarks were made in response to Lai's recent claim in a videoconference interview with The New York Times that Taiwan's economic growth rate is projected to reach 7.37 percent this year, falsely claiming that he is "willing to help China and to cooperate in addressing economic challenges" and hoping that the mainland "will focus not on territorial expansion but on improving the well-being of the Chinese people."

Since the beginning of this year, the Chinese mainland's main economic indicators have performed well, new quality productive forces have developed actively, and reform and opening-up have continued to deepen, demonstrating strong vitality and resilience, Chen said, citing data that in the first three quarters, the Chinese mainland's GDP exceeded 101.5 trillion yuan ($14.37 trillion), a year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent, an increase of approximately 4 trillion yuan. 

The growth in three quarters reached more than 80 percent of Taiwan's total economic output. It is estimated that Taiwan's GDP for the whole year will be less than the GDP of many provinces on the mainland, Chen added.

"It is truly baffling where Lai Ching-te's confidence comes from," Chen said.

Chen said Lai, seeking "Taiwan independence" through foreign support is pushing for a forced "decoupling" between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, defying economic principles. 

He disregards the fact that Taiwan's advantageous industries are being forcibly hollowed out by foreign powers and ignores the severe difficulties facing Taiwan's traditional industries. His blatant appeasement and submission to external forces will only further sell out and harm Taiwan, Chen said.

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 common aspiration of all Chinese people. The economies of both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to the Chinese nation's economy, Chen noted.

We have always upheld the concept of "We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same family" and are committed to strengthening cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, deepening cross-Straits integrated development, and sharing the opportunities of China's modernization with Taiwanese compatriots and businesses, according to Chen.

Global Times