TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Chen Binhua, spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), warned Wednesday (March 27) that the people of Taiwan would be the biggest losers if the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continues its current course.
Chen's comments come amid rising cross-strait tensions and recent rumors that the Taiwanese government was considering implementing a "war tax."
However, the Executive Yuan has clarified that these reports are false.
Chen accused the DPP of deliberately creating tension and confrontation and manipulating the concept of "preparation for war" for its own political gain. He said this contradicts the party's proclaimed stance of trying to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
On the issue of the "war tax," Lin Tzu-luen, spokesman for the Executive Yuan, also clarified that media reports of the Ministry of Finance considering a war tax were not true.
He emphasized that related military exercises are routine measures to ensure national security, and there is no situation, as reported of "discussing a war tax to raise military funds."