TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A CCTV anchor has described Taiwan and China as “two countries.”
Meanwhile, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) on Wednesday urged China to face the reality of cross-strait relations.
In a speech marking his first year in office on Tuesday, Lai had said that Taiwan, like many other countries, faces threats from aggressors, per UDN. He proposed the "Four Pillars of Peace" initiative and expressed Taiwan’s willingness to cooperate with China, so long as it is conducted under conditions of “parity and dignity.”
Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) criticized Lai's proposal to start cross-strait dialogue under these terms as a hypocritical gesture, per China Daily. He then reiterated Beijing's long-held stance that, “Only by recognizing the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China will cross-strait dialogue and consultation have a basis to resume.”
Chiu dismissed TAO’s remarks as “an outdated and rigid mindset,” stressing that the Republic of China is a sovereign and independent state. He urged the CCP to “pragmatically face the objective reality of Taiwan's existence, sincerely listen to Taiwan’s goodwill, and pragmatically face the Taiwanese people's insistence on a free and democratic way of life.”
Chiu stressed the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other. He said this is a fact that reflects the current reality in the Taiwan Strait.
In the evening, while reporting on TAO’s statement live, CCTV-13 anchor Hu Die (胡蝶) mistakenly referred to Taiwan and China as “two countries,” per ETtoday. She paused a moment, and corrected herself, rereading it as “the motherland" that will eventually be “unified.”
The video has since been deleted from the news playback video on CCTV’s official website.
