China's national rejuvenation has entered an irreversible historical process, said a Chinese official at a press conference on Wednesday about achievements on Taiwan work, and cross-strait relations since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress.

"For realizing China's complete reunification, time, momentum and righteousness are always on the mainland's side," said Chen Yuanfeng, deputy director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, adding that the Chinese mainland's development and progress is a key factor determining the course of cross-strait relations. 

Noting that the trend toward national reunification cannot be altered, regardless of obstruction or sabotage from any force, Chen said the country will tolerate no foreign interference in the Taiwan region and will thwart any attempt to divide the country.

The official vowed to make concrete efforts to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, integrate the development of the two sides and work toward national reunification.

Remarkable achievements over the past decade

Chen said historic breakthroughs have been made in cross-strait political exchanges as the past decade saw the first meeting and direct dialogue between leaders of the two sides since 1949.

The departments in charge of cross-strait affairs on both sides have established regular contact and communication mechanisms on a common political foundation, and the heads of the two departments have exchanged visits and set up hotlines, he added.

Taiwan residents on the mainland have gradually enjoyed equal treatment and development opportunities as their mainland counterparts over the last decade, Chen said, using the electronic travel passes for Taiwan residents to enter or leave the mainland, the delivery of water from the coastal province of Fujian to Kinmen Island, and residence permits for Taiwan residents.

According to the official, the cross-strait trade volume doubled from $160.03 billion in 2011 to $328.34 billion in 2021 and the total number of investment projects from Taiwan enterprises on the mainland increased from 85,722 in 2011 to 124,142 in 2021, up 44.7 percent over the decade.

The mainland remains the largest export market of Taiwan, the largest source of trade surplus for the island, and the largest destination for Taiwan's off-island investment, said Chen.

He also mentioned the expanding visits and exchanges among people of various sectors across the Taiwan Straits, adding that in 2019, the total number of cross-strait visits reached 9 million, including over 6 million visits from Taiwan to the mainland.

The deputy director also highlighted the general trend of opposing "Taiwan independence" and progress toward national reunification.

"We have taken lawful action against and effectively deterred separatist forces," Chen said, adding issues related to Taiwan's external exchanges have been handled in a sound manner, and the international community's commitment to the one-China principle has been consolidated.

Attempt to deny one-China principle doomed to fail 

When asked about the recent U.S. attempt to hollow out the one-China principle, Director of Research Bureau of Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee Qiu Kaiming on Wednesday warned any attempt to distort facts that Taiwan is part of China's territory and dispute or deny the one-China principle will end in failure. 

He chastised the U.S. for attempting to turn back the wheel of history, noting the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S. is premised on the proper handling of the Taiwan question, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of bilateral relations. 

He urged the U.S. to commit itself to the one-China principle and the stipulations in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and prudently and properly handle the Taiwan question. 

"There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable," said Qiu. 

The U.S., despite saying it retains its one-China principle, has recently attempted to undermine the one-China principle, about which the Chinese side has made repeated representations.

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