Peng Qing'en, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office

Peng Qing’en, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday that the Lai Ching-te authorities have repeatedly exaggerated the so-called “mainland threat,” escalating cross-Straits confrontation and antagonism. He noted that such actions run counter to the mainstream public opinion on the island, which calls for peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, are unpopular, and are bound to face opposition.

He made the remarks when asked to comment on a recent case in which a man surnamed Qiao from a Taiwan-based airline was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for bribery by local court, after allegedly attempting — on behalf of a mainland intelligence agency — to obtain secrets from an official of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council relating to commissioned research projects. 

Global Times