Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun

Spokespersons of Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Monday condemned the recent visit to Japan by Cho Jung-tai, chief of Taiwan's executive body, as a move aimed at seeking "Taiwan independence," which is despicable.

When asked to comment on reports that Cho travelled to Japan to watch a baseball game and claimed that the trip was "personal visit" and it was nothing official about his visit to Tokyo, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday at a regular press conference that "with unspeakable motives, Cho sneaked into Japan to carry out provocation for 'Taiwan independence.' This is a rather despicable move." 

Guo said China remains highly vigilant and firmly opposed to the Japanese side trying to create gray areas or push the envelope on the Taiwan question, adding that the Japanese side will pay the price for emboldening the provocations and acting recklessly and shall bear all responsibility for the consequences of such action. 

China will continue to firmly push back separatism for "Taiwan independence," oppose external interference, and defend national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.

Also on the same day, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, also slammed Cho's move in response to a media inquiry about Cho's recent visit to Japan.

Zhu Fenglian Photo: Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

Under the pretext of a so-called private itinerary, the visit by a leading figure of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities is in fact a provocative act aimed at seeking "Taiwan independence," which is despicable, Zhu Fenglian said. 

Zhu said that the DPP authorities, stubbornly adhering to a 'Taiwan independence' separatist stance and seeking 'Taiwan independence' by relying on external forces by any means, are nothing but the destroyer of cross-Straits peace and the troublemaker of a Taiwan Straits crisis. 

The spokesperson expressed hope that Taiwan compatriots will clearly recognize the harmful intentions behind the DPP authorities' pursuit of "Taiwan independence," stand together in firmly opposing separatist activities and external interference, safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and jointly protect the shared home of the Chinese nation.

Zhu stressed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair and brooks no external interference. Japan's allowing leading figures of the DPP authorities to visit violates the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, sends a seriously wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and China firmly opposes this, she added.

"We urged Japan to seriously reflect on its history, learn the lessons of history, correct its mistakes and stop making moves or provocations on the Taiwan question," Zhu added.



Global Times