A spokesperson from the Chinese mainland issued a strong message to Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of shared cultural heritage across the Taiwan Strait.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, responded to the DPP’s criticism of the recently concluded second Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit. The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council had labeled the summit a politically charged “united front” event.
“The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same ancestral roots, language, and cultural heritage,” Zhu stated. “We are one family with blood ties and a shared destiny.”
The summit, held under the theme “Inheritance, Promotion, and Development,” brought together over 800 participants from cultural and academic circles from both sides of the strait. Many attendees from Taiwan expressed their recognition of the shared identity and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving Chinese culture.
Zhu condemned the DPP authorities for reportedly threatening to investigate Taiwan-based business leaders who participated in the forum and expressed a Chinese cultural identity. “This is their right and freedom,” she noted, adding that such sentiments reflect the mainstream public will in Taiwan for peace, development, dialogue, and cooperation.
She criticized the DPP for “prioritizing separatist political agendas over the shared cultural heritage and aspirations of the people.” Zhu added, “By hyping up so-called united front threats, stirring anti-mainland sentiment, and intimidating those who support peaceful cross-strait relations, the DPP has revealed its true nature.”
The spokesperson called on the DPP authorities to respect the collective heritage and work towards fostering positive relations across the strait.
