Mainland denounces Lai Ching-te's "Taiwan independence" remarks

BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday denounced separatist remarks of Lai Ching-te, deputy leader of China's Taiwan region.

Lai has hidden his "Taiwan independence" agenda under the so-called pursuit of "peace," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in response to Lai's recent remarks on cross-Strait affairs.

"Taiwan independence" means war, and it has nothing to do with peace, Zhu said.

Zhu said that although Lai talked about cross-Strait dialogue and cooperation, he has never given up the strategy of seeking independence by military means and looking for external support for his separatist agenda.

Zhu reiterated that the 1992 Consensus is a common political foundation for cross-Strait dialogue and the Taiwan question is entirely an internal matter of China.