A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday lashed out at attempts by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan to push "de-Sinicization" and to sever the historical and cultural bonds between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to the DPP authorities' recent act of reclassifying people of the Han ethnic majority group as part of the island's "other population" in its official demographic data.
Earlier this month, Taiwan's executive body revised demographic information on its official website, removing the term "Han people", which accounts for more than 90 percent of the whole population, and replacing it with "other population".
The revision erased explicit recognition of the Han people -- Taiwan's largest ethnic group, which has been the island's majority demographic for centuries.
"It is extremely absurd and ridiculous. How can those within the DPP authorities who carry out such acts, particularly those reclassified as part of the so-called 'other population', face their ancestors without shame? People on both sides of the Strait share the same bloodline, culture and historical heritage, and all belong to the Chinese nation, which is an objective fact that no one can change," Chen said.
"The DPP authorities, driven by their separatist nature and selfish political interests, employ various tactics to manipulate 'de-Sinicization,' in attempting to sever the historical and cultural bonds between the two sides of the Strait, which will not have people's support, will not succeed and will surely be condemned," he said.
Mainland slams DPP's "de-Sinicization" attempts in altering demographic terms
