One-China principle unshakable, historical trend of reunification unstoppable: spokesman

The one-China principle is unshakable and the historical trend of reunification is unstoppable, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on Wednesday in response to recent wrong remarks by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te.

Lai said at the annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) on Tuesday that the Chinese mainland has wrongly interpreted the United Nations General Assembly resolution 2758 to limit Taiwan's international participation and build a basis for so-called "military aggression against Taiwan".

Asked to comment on Lai's statement, Lin said at a regular press conference, held on Wednesday in Beijing, that "there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is an undeniable objective fact."

"Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly fundamentally resolved the issue of the representation of all China, including Taiwan, in the UN. It made it clear that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is part of China, and that Taiwan is not a state. The resolution clarifies that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of China in the UN. There is no 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'. The UN and its specialized agencies all follow the one-China principle, and the official documents of the UN refer to Taiwan as 'Taiwan, Province of China'. The legal opinion issued by the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat also stressed that 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status' and that 'authorities in Taipei are not considered to...enjoy any form of governmental status'," he said.

"UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 once again reaffirms the one-China principle. The one-China principle is a widely recognized fundamental norm of international relations and a general consensus of the international community. How can there be any talk of a 'misinterpretation'? How can there be any talk of 'sovereign status' for Taiwan as it is part of China? Taiwan's participation in activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, so how can there be any talk of 'international participation'?" said Lin.

"I'd like to reiterate that the one-China principle is unshakable, the historical trend of reunification is unstoppable, and 'Taiwan independence' secession will lead to a dead end. No matter what the Lai Ching-te administration says or does, it will not change the objective fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, nor will it shake the legal status of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, nor will it stop the historical trend of China's eventual and inevitable reunification," said the spokesman.

One-China principle unshakable, historical trend of reunification unstoppable: spokesman

As part of the long-held traditions during the Qingming Festival, people across China observe the festival with various holiday foods like wormwood cakes and spring rolls, to honor their ancestors and celebrate the spring season.

During the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day, which goes back more than 2500 years in China, it is tradition for the Chinese people to return to their hometowns and pay respect to their ancestors and deceased family members. The festival falls on Friday this year.

In Baojing County of central China's Hunan Province, locals make wormwood glutinous rice cakes as a way of remembering their ancestors and expressing their love for both the land and the season of renewal.

"We pick the wormwood early in the morning when it's at peak freshness. We choose the tip of the white wormwood because they are the most tender part. It will make the cakes extra soft, sticky and sweet," said Yang Lie, a local villager.

The preparation of wormwood cakes starts with cleaning the wormwood, which is then boiled with a bit of food-grade alkali for about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, rice is ground into a paste in a stone mill, which is then mixed with the dried wormwood.

Wormwood cakes are filled with a variety of ingredients, ranging from sweet to savory. Once filled, they're wrapped in leaves and steamed for about 20 minutes.

In recent years, locals have come up with new varieties, such as black rice and sweet potato cakes, enriching the range of this traditional treat.

In east China's Fujian Province, it is customary to eat spring rolls around the Qingming Festival. While the ingredients for making the pancakes for the delicacy -- flour, water and salt -- seem simple, the process requires considerable skill.

As for the fillings, in addition to the usual ingredients like carrots, mushrooms and lean meat, locals add seasonal vegetables, enhancing both flavor and texture.

"We always choose seasonal vegetables during spring (for the fillings), such as leeks, pea shoots and spring bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are truly a springtime delicacy," said Yang Zhuzhen, a villager from Zhangzhou City of Fujian.

For locals, spring rolls are more than just a seasonal food -- they symbolize family reunion. Now, even those returning home from abroad will make sure to have spring rolls as their first meal upon arriving home, carrying on this beloved tradition.

Seasonal delicacies add to Tomb-Sweeping Day festivities