Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

Peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, cooperation and conflict are two fundamentally different paths, and "those who follow different paths cannot make plans together," by citing a well-known line from The Analects of Confucious, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, responded to a media inquiry on that according to Taiwan regional media, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party Cheng Li-wun has publicly expressed willingness to meet and communicate with Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te before and after her visit to the mainland, and has sincerely awaited an invitation from him, but has received no response.

Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun's visit to the mainland with a KMT delegation responds to the mainstream public opinion on the island calling for peace, development, exchanges and cooperation, and carries positive and important significance for promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and safeguarding the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots, said Chen.

By contrast, the Lai Ching-te authorities stubbornly adhere to a "Taiwan independence" separatist stance and have gone to great lengths to restrict, obstruct and undermine cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, running counter to public opinion and losing popular support, said Chen.

Global Times