Mid-Autumn Festival event brings together people from both sides of Taiwan Strait

Over 250 people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian Province, on Saturday to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Oct 6 this year.

The event featured themed zones showcasing festive lanterns, folk customs, and Taiwan-funded enterprises.

Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, attended the gathering, alongside Sean Lien, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.

"This is my first time to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Fujian, and it feels quite different. With many close friends here, it truly gives me a sense of family reunion," said Wang Yiwen, a Taiwan compatriot living and working in Fujian.

"I hope that more Taiwan compatriots will share these great opportunities, so that we work together to build Fujian into the best place on the Chinese mainland for development of Taiwan compatriots and enterprises," said Jiang Peiqi, president of Fuzhou Taiwan Investment Enterprise Association.

Song called for efforts to safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation, resolutely oppose "Taiwan secession" and external interference, and boost exchanges, cooperation and integrated development across the Strait.

He also urged efforts to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance national reunification.

In his remarks, Lien said the KMT party will continue to strengthen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation while promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the basis of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan secession."

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals in China, which is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month on the traditional Chinese calendar.

Mid-Autumn Festival event brings together people from both sides of Taiwan Strait

The White House Office of Management and Budget released its 2027 budget proposal on Friday, which would raise U.S. defense spending to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars while reducing funding for domestic programs.

The budget plan "builds on the president's vision by continuing to constrain non-defense spending and reform the federal government," according to a document published on the White House website.

At a White House event on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the defense spending as a priority, noting that domestic responsibilities such as health care should be shifted to the states.

"We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You got to let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it, too," Trump said.

Aside from cuts to health programs, the White House budget proposal also includes cuts to refugee resettlement aid, renewable energy projects, university grants and housing programs, among others.

The president's annual budget is often seen as a reflection of the administration's priorities, though Congress ultimately holds the authority over federal spending.

The release of the White House 2027 budget proposal came as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats pushing for immigration enforcement reforms that Republicans refuse to accept. This led to a partial government shutdown that has stretched on for nearly seven weeks.

White House seeks 1.5 trillion USD in defense spending in 2027 budget proposal