Lai slammed for inciting confrontation

Chinese mainland officials condemned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for playing up the so-called "mainland military threat" and inciting confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, saying that his speech on Saturday reflected a separatist mindset and sought to mislead the public.

Zhang Han, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Lai's speech disregarded facts and distorted the truth, exposing his ulterior motives of pursuing "Taiwan independence".

Zhang criticized Lai for stubbornly clinging to a separatist "Taiwan independence" mindset and playing up the so-called "mainland threat". She also accused him of promoting the false narrative of "democracy versus authoritarianism" and seeking "Taiwan independence" through force and by relying on external forces.