A Chinese mainland spokesperson dismissed on Wednesday Taiwan authorities' claims of declining business appeal of the mainland, presenting economic data that counters the island's "decoupling" narrative while criticizing its ban on popular mainland social media apps as politically motivated information control.
At a press briefing in Beijing, Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, refuted recent remarks by Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation about reduced Taiwan investment in the mainland.
"Amid a changing and turbulent external environment, the mainland's economy has maintained overall stability with continued improvement in key indicators, growing new growth drivers, and sustained high-quality development. According to recent data released by the General Administration of Customs, the mainland's total goods trade reached 21.79 trillion yuan in the first half of this year, or a 2.9 percent year-on-year increase, hitting a record high for the same period. Exports grew 7.2 percent to 13 trillion yuan. Data from Taiwan's financial regulators also shows listed Taiwan companies earned record profits of 115.6 billion New Taiwan dollars from mainland investments in the first quarter this year," he said.
"This fully demonstrates that cross-strait economic cooperation and integrated development continue benefiting enterprises and people on both sides. The mainland remains a stable, secure and promising investment destination for Taiwan businesses. The DPP authorities, serving their own selfish interests, persistently disparage the mainland economy, obstruct cross-Strait cooperation, and recklessly push for so-called 'decoupling'. Such futile attempts are doomed to fail," Chen said.
Addressing Taiwan's recent ban on five mainland social media apps including Xiaohongshu and Douyin over alleged security risks, Chen said these platforms gained popularity precisely because they "enable more efficient information access, more convenient lifestyle services, and more engaging social sharing."
"The DPP's pretext of 'cybersecurity risks' reveals their own insecurities. They fear Taiwan people learning the truth about the mainland, fear their carefully constructed 'information cocoon' being broken, and fear closer cross-Strait understanding and affinity through open information exchange. Their paranoid overreach and authoritarian actions against the public will meet resolute opposition," Chen noted.
Mainland rejects Taiwan’s economic "decoupling" push, affirms cross-strait cooperation benefits
