Chinese Embassy in U.S.: Taiwan question is not about democracy

China on Monday denounced remarks by the representative of the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States" in two American media reports, and reiterated that the Taiwan question has nothing to do with democracy, but bears on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In a recent article in USA Today and in an interview with AP, the representative of the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States" used "democracy versus authoritarianism" to comment on Taiwan's election result, claimed to maintain the cross-Straits "status quo" and that Taiwan region will continue to strengthen security and economic ties with the United States.

"The remarks are misleading and have distorted the truth," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States said in a statement issued on the embassy's website.

Using "democracy" as a pretext, the "Taiwan independence" forces are trying to stoke confrontation and antagonism across the Straits, justify their provocative moves in pushing forward separatism, and cover up their hidden agenda of splitting the country apart, the spokesperson said, adding when it comes to "democracy," the sincere desire and firm will of the 1.4 billion Chinese people for national reunification is the true and greatest democracy.

The spokesperson stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Taiwan's return to China is a component of the post-WWII international order, and the one-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations and a prevailing international consensus, which is the real status quo of the Taiwan question, said the spokesperson.

The election result of the Taiwan region cannot change the dynamics and direction of cross-Straits relations, nor can it hold back the prevailing trend that China will and must achieve reunification, the spokesperson added.

Facts have proved that the "Taiwan independence" forces and external forces colluding with them are the root causes of cross-Straits tensions in recent years and the fundamental threat to peace and stability across the Straits, said the spokesperson, who noted that the first fundamental principle of the party platform of the Democratic Progressive Party is "establishing the Republic of Taiwan as a sovereign, independent, and autonomous nation."

"Whoever pushes for 'Taiwan independence' will be splitting Chinese territory and will surely be judged harshly by history and law, and whoever goes against the one-China principle will be interfering in China's internal affairs and violating China's sovereignty, and will surely be opposed by the Chinese people and the international community," said the spokesperson.

(Cover: A view of the Chinese Embassy in the United States. /Chinese Embassy in the United States)