TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China's government renewed its unification rhetoric toward Taiwan on Wednesday (May 14), as Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) accused President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) of heightening tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Chen asserted that unification between Taiwan and mainland China remains "inevitable" despite growing resistance from Taiwan's democratically elected leadership.
The Chinese official specifically targeted Lai's rejection of the "1992 Consensus," a disputed understanding between Beijing and Taipei regarding the principle of "one China." Chen characterized Taiwan's president as "a peace saboteur and crisis creator," while reiterating Beijing's position that Taiwan remains "an inseparable part of China" regardless of the island's democratic governance or international standing.
In his statement, Chen took aim at Taiwan's Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, criticizing its official website for categorizing 96% of Taiwan's population as "other." The Chinese spokesperson characterized this demographic classification as deliberate "de-sinicization" designed to sever historical connections. Chen emphasized what he described as inseparable cultural and ancestral bonds linking people across the Taiwan Strait.
Speaking at a Beijing press conference, Chen called on Taiwan's 23 million citizens to reject both independence movements and what he termed "foreign interference" in cross-strait relations. His remarks highlighted a controversial new reporting system established by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (國台辦) that encourages informants to report "Taiwan independence acts." The system has already collected nearly 6,000 emails since its launch, with Chen promising legal consequences for those identified.
The escalating rhetoric comes days before President Lai completes his first year in office on May 20, a milestone that marks twelve months of increasingly strained relations between Taipei and Beijing. Lai, who took his oath of office in 2024, has maintained Taiwan's separate identity while navigating complex diplomatic and security challenges from China. ◼