A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said "Taiwan independence" means the "loss of peace and the fall of disaster" and urged Taiwan compatriots not to be victims of the "Taiwan independence" separatists.
"Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are very aware that 'Taiwan independence' means the loss of peace and the fall of disaster," said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a regular news briefing.
She made the remarks in response to speculation on the two sides of the Straits of an upcoming war.
The spokesperson accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority of "hijacking" Taiwan residents on the "independence" issue only for its private gains and called on them to safeguard the peace and stability of the Straits.
The office also said Beijing will exercise lawful, concrete measures on blacklisted persons seeking "Taiwan independence."
"The punitive measures against the stubborn Taiwan secessionists and their financial supporters in accordance with the law aim to contain the separatists' activities and safeguard the peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits," Zhu said.
The spokesperson stressed that the measures would promote the normal business and trade between the two sides and better protect the legitimate interests of Taiwan compatriots.
China opposes any form of official contacts between U.S. and Taiwan region
In response to a visit to Taiwan by members of the U.S. Congress, who arrived in a military airplane on Tuesday, Zhu voiced the Chinese mainland's firm opposition.
"We firmly oppose any form of official contacts or military ties between the United States and China's Taiwan region," she said.
The Chinese side urges members of the U.S. Congress to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and refrain from sending false signals to "Taiwan independence" separatists, said the spokesperson.
"No one should underestimate the Chinese people's staunch determination, strong resolve and powerful capability to defend our national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also commented on the visit, warning the U.S. Congress members that collusion with "Taiwan independence" forces is a "dangerous game."
"Those who play with fire with 'Taiwan independence' forces will ultimately get burned," Wang said.
He stressed that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and that the reunification of China is an "unstoppable trend of history." Any provocation against the trend of reunification is doomed to fail, he said.
(CGTN's Zheng Yibing also contributed to the story.)