Citing CGTN poll, Chinese mainland spokesperson warns DPP is pushing Taiwan region closer to brink of war

A Chinese mainland spokesperson warned on Wednesday that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are pushing the region closer to the brink of war, citing a recent poll by GGTN.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the global CGTN survey shows that an overwhelming 90 percent of respondents see the Taiwan DPP authorities' armament build-up as a push to the brink of war.

Zhu made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about the block of a proposed 1.25 trillion New Taiwan dollars ($40 billion) special "defense" budget by the island's legislature at a weekly press briefing.

The block reflects a growing consensus in the Taiwan region that purchasing weapons does not buy "security," but instead would accelerate the island's descent into danger, she said.

It further underscores the public's deep-seated resentment toward the DPP authorities for squandering public money to appease foreign forces and enrich arms dealers overseas, added the spokesperson.

Warning to die-hard 'Taiwan independence' secessionists

Zhu also warned on Wednesday that the crazier the "Taiwan independence" moves, the tighter the anti-secession noose, in response to questions about the addition of two individuals to the list of die-hard "Taiwan independence" secessionists.

"Taiwan is China's Taiwan," Zhu reiterated, noting that those seeking "Taiwan independence" and undermining cross-Strait relations will be punished by all necessary measures and held accountable for life in accordance with the law.

The 17 strategies rolled out by Lai Ching-te, leader of the DPP authorities, and designed to counter so-called threats from the mainland, completely run counter to the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan, which favors peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation, the spokesperson said.

The recent moves by the DPP authorities are sinister in intent, aimed at further creating a climate of "green terror" and seeking "Taiwan independence," Zhu said, adding that these despicable acts are bound to be opposed and doomed to fail.

Responding to another inquiry on Lai's slander on the mainland, the spokesperson said that attacking and smearing the mainland and playing up cross-Strait confrontation is a usual trick used by the DPP ahead of every election on the island to seek political self-interest.

Such malicious intentions cannot deceive the Taiwan people and will inevitably be despised by them, she added.

(With input from Xinhua)