State Council Taiwan Affairs Office: People like Lai Qingde should not miscalculate the situation. Those who dare to take risks will inevitably bring destruction upon themselves.

On March 14, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Chen Binhua, answered questions from reporters. Question: Lai Ching-te attended the so-called "30 Years of Direct Presidential Elections and Democratic Resilience Seminar" today, openly declaring that the election demonstrates "Taiwan is a sovereign independent country," concocting the fallacy of "democracy equals sovereignty," exaggerating the "threat from the mainland," advocating "seeking independence through force," inciting "resisting China and protecting Taiwan," and promoting "democracy against authoritarianism." What is your comment on this? Lai Ching-te's speech is another carefully crafted "Taiwan independence confession," once again flagrantly challenging the One China principle, fully exposing his unyielding Taiwan independence nature and revealing his malicious intentions. Lai Ching-te attempts to justify Taiwan's non-existent "national status" with the so-called "direct democratic elections," fabricates the "threat from China to Taiwan" to clamour for "defending sovereignty," creates false narratives of "democracy against authoritarianism" to incite cross-strait opposition and confrontation, completely distorts Taiwan's history, deviates from basic facts, with the aim of seducing the public, confusing the facts, inciting "resisting China and protecting Taiwan," planning "seeking independence through force," and "resisting unification through force," essentially disrupting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, pushing Taiwan towards war. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, Taiwan is a part of China, with clear historical and legal facts. Although the two sides have not completely unified, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been divided. Taiwan is never a country and cannot become a country, fundamentally lacking any "sovereignty." Regardless of how Taiwan conducts elections or who is elected, it does not change Taiwan's status as a part of China, cannot sever the unbreakable historical and legal connection between the two sides, and cannot break the iron rule that Taiwan's future can only be decided by all Chinese people, including the people of Taiwan. Differences in systems are not obstacles to unification, let alone excuses for division. We will never allow anyone or any force to carry out "Taiwan independence" separatist intentions under the guise of democracy. Lai Ching-te and his ilk should not miscalculate, dare to take reckless actions, and will surely perish! No matter what Lai Ching-te says or does, it cannot change the fundamental situation of the development of cross-strait relations, nor can it obstruct the historical trend of eventual reunification of the motherland. We hope that the broad masses of the Taiwanese compatriots will see through Lai Ching-te and the ambitions and selfish desires of the Taiwan independence separatist forces, uphold the national righteousness, stand on the right side of history, join hands with us to oppose the "Taiwan independence" separatist actions, firmly maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and protect the common homeland of the Chinese nation.