The Mainland Affairs Council countered Beijing's criticism of the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) planned protest against China's proposed "anti-secession" law yesterday, saying that China would have to clean up its own mess.
"He who ties the bell on the tiger must also take it off," a council statement read, indicating that, as the troublemaker, China, should put an end to the trouble the bill has created.
"No matter what means China employs to dilute or cover the law, there is no way to mask the law's ridiculous and deceptive nature," the statement read.
Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office chief Chen Yunlin (
Chen made the remark after the DPP said it expected to attract up to 500,000 people to a rally to protest the law, which would make it illegal -- in Beijing's view -- for Taiwan declare independence from China. The rally is to take place on March 26.
"A few separatists seeking Taiwan independence ... distort the anti-secession law mislead and cheat the majority of their Taiwan compatriots, and stir up feelings against the mainland," the Taiwan Affairs Office official said.
"The DPP even said [they would] take further action to sabotage cross-strait relations," Chen added.
Xinhua quoted Chen as saying that Taiwan "again attempted to push cross-strait relations to a dangerous edge, arousing indignation from Chinese at home and abroad."
The law, almost certain to be passed tomorrow by China's rubber-stamp parliament -- the National People's Congress -- gives the Chinese military the legal basis to attack Taiwan if it formally declares independence. At the same time, Beijing insists that "non-peaceful means" will be used only as a last resort.
Council spokesman Chiu Tai-san (
"China needs to seriously reconsider how the people of Taiwan will react to this law," Chiu said, alluding to the fact that the protest was a result of China's proposed legislation.
"Chen does not take into account the fact that a majority of Taiwanese people are opposed to the law," Chiu said.
"If China chooses to view the Taiwanese people's opposition to violence and love for peace as the destruction of cross-strait ties, China would be making yet another big mistake and would be greatly misjudging the country," the council statement said.
China's first mistake, according to the council, was its "unilateral move to pass the bill."
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
A former officer in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) who witnessed the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre has warned that Taiwan could face a similar fate if China attempts to unify the country by force. Li Xiaoming (李曉明), who was deployed to Beijing as a junior officer during the crackdown, said Taiwanese people should study the massacre carefully, because it offers a glimpse of what Beijing is willing to do to suppress dissent. “What happened in Tiananmen Square could happen in Taiwan too,” Li told CNA in a May 22 interview, ahead of the massacre’s 36th anniversary. “If Taiwanese students or
RSS