China's mainland warns DPP: 'Those who forget their heritage will come to no good end'

A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, stating that "those who forget their heritage will come to no good end," in response to their criticism of the recently concluded second Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, condemned the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council for labeling the cultural summit as a politically charged "united front" event. The DPP authorities also reportedly threatened to investigate Taiwan-based business leaders who participated in the forum and expressed a Chinese cultural identity.

The spokesperson emphasized that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits share the same ancestral roots, language, and cultural heritage. "We are one family with blood ties and a shared destiny," the spokesperson said, adding that the Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit is a significant platform for cultural exchange and cooperation.

With the theme of "inheritance, promotion, and development," the summit brought together over 800 participants from cultural and academic circles across the straits. According to Zhu, many attendees from Taiwan voiced their recognition of the shared identity across the straits and reaffirmed their commitment to the inheritance of Chinese culture.

"This is their right and freedom," she noted, calling such sentiments a reflection of the mainstream public will in Taiwan for peace, development, dialogue, and cooperation.

Zhu criticized the DPP for prioritizing separatist political agendas over the shared cultural heritage and aspirations of the people.

"By hyping up so-called united front threats, stirring anti-mainland sentiment, and intimidating those who support peaceful cross-Straits relations, the DPP has revealed its true nature: authoritarianism under the guise of democracy," the spokesperson said.