Beijing slams Taiwan leader over 'independence' remarks

The Chinese mainland on Thursday denounced Taiwan's leader, Lai Ching-te, calling him a "destroyer of cross-Strait peace" after he described Taiwan as a sovereign country and laid out strategies to counter what he called threats from Beijing.

Lai's remarks, made after a security meeting, once again exposed his "stubborn and provocative stance" on Taiwan independence, said Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Chen accused Lai of falsely claiming that Taiwan is a "sovereign independent democratic country," referring to the Chinese mainland as "foreign hostile forces," and outlining 17 strategies to counter what Lai called threats from Beijing.

"Taiwan is an indivisible part of China's sacred territory and has never been, nor will it ever be, a separate country," Chen said.

He reiterated Beijing's determination to achieve national reunification, saying, "Our resolve to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve national reunification is as solid as a rock, our capabilities are indestructible, and we will never allow anyone or any force to split Taiwan from China."

"If the Taiwan independence separatist forces dare to cross the red line, the mainland will have to take resolute measures," he added.