On October 8, during a press conference, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, responded to recent comments made by Lai Ching-te regarding his so-called “theory of the motherland.” Zhu stated that Lai’s rhetoric, which she characterized as “old wine in a new bottle,” exposes his stubborn stance on Taiwanese independence and his malicious intent to escalate hostility and confrontation.
When asked about Lai’s remarks during a recent event in Taipei, where he asserted that “from an age perspective, the People’s Republic of China can never be the motherland of the people of the Republic of China,” and suggested that instead, the Republic of China might be the motherland for citizens over 75 in mainland China, Zhu emphasized that this statement has sparked controversy and criticism across different sectors in Taiwan.
Zhu criticized Lai for attempting to conflate concepts and confuse the issues at hand. She accused him of highlighting political differences between the two sides and deliberately severing the historical connections, while continuing to push the notion that “the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other.” According to Zhu, this serves to constrain the national and ethnic identity of the Taiwanese people.
She firmly asserted that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, supported by historical context and legal facts. On October 25, 1945, the Chinese government proclaimed the “recovery of sovereignty over Taiwan.” Following that, on October 1, 1949, the Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China was established, replacing the Republic of China government as the only legitimate representative of all of China. Zhu insisted that this change of government did not alter China’s status as an international legal entity and that Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity remain intact, including sovereignty over Taiwan.
Zhu reiterated that even though the two sides have not yet fully unified, Chinese sovereignty and territory have never been divided and cannot be divided. The fact that both the mainland and Taiwan are part of one China remains unchanged. Regardless of Lai’s “historical paradoxes” or “independence oddities,” the objective reality of both sides belonging to one China cannot be altered. She encouraged the people of Taiwan to clearly recognize Lai’s schemes for independence, firmly oppose the separatist agenda, reject foreign interference, and safeguard their shared homeland while promoting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
