Chinese mainland officials have strongly criticized Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te for what they describe as efforts to escalate cross-strait tensions through his recent public statements. Speaking on Saturday in Taipei, Lai accused the mainland of using military pressure against Taiwan and defended Taiwan’s increased defense budget as a deterrence measure rather than a provocation.
Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, condemned Lai’s remarks as reflecting a separatist agenda aimed at advancing “Taiwan independence.” Zhang accused Lai of distorting facts and fostering a narrative of confrontation that undermines regional peace and stability. She emphasized the one-China principle as an established norm in international relations and the basis for the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.
On Sunday, Chen Xi, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, echoed these criticisms, labeling Lai a “troublemaker for Taiwan” whose reliance on external support endangers peace. Chen accused Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of promoting separatism to serve party interests, turning the island into a potential battlefield through what he called “whole-of-society mobilization.” He defended the People’s Liberation Army’s routine exercises around Taiwan as necessary measures to deter separatist activities and external interference, asserting they aim to safeguard the safety and well-being of Taiwan residents.
Experts aligned with mainland perspectives also weighed in. Bao Chengke, a researcher at a Shanghai-based cross-Strait studies association, described Lai’s increasing defense expenditures as a provocation harmful to both Taiwan’s population and economy. Taiwan’s proposed defense budget for 2027 stands at NT$1.12 trillion (approximately $35.1 billion), nearly double the amount when Lai took office in 2024 and approaching 4 percent of Taiwan’s GDP, Bao noted. He argued that Lai conceals his push for independence amid limited international support by portraying the mainland as an authoritarian threat.
Meanwhile, Lai framed Taiwan as a “city upon a hill” and pledged to enhance social welfare during his speech. However, critics from the mainland accused him of glossing over pressing social challenges and misleading the public by focusing on ideological agendas rather than addressing concrete societal issues.
The sharp rebuke from mainland authorities comes amid continued tensions over Taiwan’s political status and cross-strait relations, with Beijing firmly opposing any moves toward formal independence and viewing such efforts as destabilizing. Lai’s statements and Taiwan’s rising defense spending are set against this backdrop of ongoing strategic rivalry and diplomatic friction.