Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese that brooks no external interference, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Zhu made the statement in response to a media query about a report by The Wall Street Journal, which said that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) would launch an attack on Taiwan through three steps.
"Taiwan is China's Taiwan. Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is the common aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, a sacred mission and a just endeavor. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese and brooks no foreign interference," she said.
"The current situation across the Taiwan Strait is complex and severe. The root cause is that the Lai Ching-te authorities have stubbornly adhered to the separatist stance and colluded with external forces to carry out provocations aimed at seeking Taiwan secession. We hope that our Taiwan compatriots will clearly recognize the harmful and destructive nature of the Lai Ching-te authorities' pursuit of a separatist agenda, firmly oppose Taiwan secessionism and external interference. [We hope that the compatriots in Taiwan] will work with the mainland to safeguard peace and stability across the Strait, promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and advance the cause of national reunification," Zhu said.
Spokeswoman reiterates resolute opposition to foreign interference in Taiwan question
Thai and Cambodian leaders must find a way to resolve their differences through talks and not on the battlefield, according to a former Thai foreign minister, who also believes China could be in a unique position to serve as a mediator given its strong ties with both sides.
Border clashes between the two sides have reignited since Dec 7 -- less than two months after the two sides signed a joint peace declaration -- with both trading the blame for instigating the attacks.
The latest round of fighting has left at least 19 Thai soldiers and 19 Thai civilians dead, with over 270,000 people displaced, Thailand's defense ministry announced on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, on the same day, the Cambodian Defense Ministry said that 17 civilians have been killed and 77 injured as the Thai military forces have continued airstrikes and artillery shelling into Cambodian territory, with over 438,000 individuals fleeing their homes.
With the two sides continuing to point the finger of blame and trade accusations of attacks on civilians, peace talks appear to be a long way off.
Kasit Piromya, who formerly served as Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged the two countries' leaders to put people first, set aside their pride and find a resolution.
"The people must be the priority, not the victory or losses or the battlefield. It's detrimental and destructive to all. It is easy to arouse the passion, but [the sign of] great leaders, great statesmen is to be able to overcome the nationalistic sentiment and come back to the sense and sensibility and to start to talk with one another," he said.
China has called for utmost restraint and every possible measure conducive to a ceasefire to ensure de-escalation of tensions as soon as possible, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told a daily press briefing on Monday.
China supports direct dialogue and consultation between the two countries, as well as the efforts of ASEAN -- and Malaysia, in particular -- to promote peace talks, and the pursuit of a mutually acceptable solution within the ASEAN framework, according to the spokesman.
Piromya said he believes China could play a constructive role in a peace process between the two sides.
"China has been having, I think, more or less an excellent bilateral relationship respectively with Thailand and Cambodia. So China is in a very unique and great position to bring the two sides, Cambodia and Thailand, together," Piromya said.
Former official urges Thailand, Cambodia to make people priority, end border clashes
