Mainland rips 'destroyer of peace' Lai

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday denounced Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region, as a "destroyer of peace" in the Taiwan Strait, while condemning his recent remarks as an attempt to escalate tensions between the two sides.

During a Chinese New Year event in Taipei held for Taiwan businesses operating on the Chinese mainland on Monday, Lai commented that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait do not belong to each other.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai — while claiming to seek peace and stability in the Strait — has maintained a separatist stance of "Taiwan independence", fueled separatism, sabotaged peace and hindered cross-Strait exchange.