In light of the malicious criticisms from the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) regarding President Lai's statement on 'country' today (23rd), the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) expressed that the TAO's reiteration of the outdated 'One China' narrative lacks originality and fails to withstand scrutiny, while also not gaining the acceptance of the Taiwanese people.

The MAC highlighted that President Lai's articulation of historical facts is well-founded and illustrates that the claims made by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stating 'Taiwan has always been an inseparable part of China' and 'Taiwan is not a sovereign independent state' are baseless fabrications. The MAC emphasized that the Republic of China (ROC) has been established since 1912, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) has never governed Taiwan, even for a single day. The ROC government and its military have struggled valiantly during World War II to defend their homeland, ultimately achieving victory.

Moreover, the MAC noted that during the signing of the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation in 1943, the PRC had not yet been founded, and UN Resolution 2758 made no mention of Taiwan, nor did it authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan in the United Nations framework. The so-called 'One China' principle constructed by the CCP fundamentally distorts historical facts, which will not be acknowledged by the international community nor accepted by the Taiwanese people.

The MAC further asserted that the government's cross-strait policy stance remains consistent and assertive while maintaining the status quo. In the face of the CCP's increasing hybrid pressure and infiltration against Taiwan, President Lai's proposed '17 counter-strategy measures' and associated policy discourse are necessary actions to uphold our national sovereignty and ensure the democratic freedoms and way of life of Taiwan.

Lastly, the MAC calls on the Chinese authorities to recognize the objective existence of the Republic of China and the current status of the Taiwan Strait where 'both sides are not subordinate to each other', to cease all coercive actions against Taiwan, and to replace malicious insults with meaningful dialogue, as this would contribute positively to the development of cross-strait relations.