The Chinese mainland will continue to share development fruits with compatriots in the Taiwan region in all aspects of life, a spokeswoman said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Taiwan's consumer goods imports reached the record high of 49.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, with the mainland remaining the island's largest source of consumer goods imports, accounting for 24.5 percent of the total, according to data released by the Taiwan authorities.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, attributed it to the global popularity of "Made in China" products and the deep cultural bonds across the Taiwan Strait.
"The mainland boasts the world's largest, most comprehensive, and most complete industrial system, with its manufacturing sector ranking first globally for many consecutive years. As intelligent, green, and integrated development is accelerating, a vast variety of Chinese-made products -- from end products such as snacks, home appliances, and mobile phones to high-end equipment such as new energy vehicles and industrial robots -- are entering households across the world, leading the consumer trends. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait share common cultural traditions and lifestyles, so it's natural that mainland consumer goods are popular in Taiwan," Zhang said.
The spokeswoman called for stronger cross-Strait economic cooperation, integrated development, and more people-to-people exchanges.
"Strengthening economic cooperation and deepening integrated development across the Strait serve the common interests of compatriots on both sides. We will continue our efforts to ensure that our compatriots in Taiwan can share the fruits of mainland development in all aspects of life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation. We also welcome more Taiwan compatriots to visit the mainland and see firsthand its rapid development and changes," Zhang added.
Mainland to continue sharing development fruits with Taiwan compatriots: spokeswoman
Mainland to continue sharing development fruits with Taiwan compatriots: spokeswoman
An official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has condemned Israel for demolishing the buildings within the UN agency's East Jerusalem compound.
Israeli authorities stormed the Sheikh Jarrah compound of UNRWA last week. After a full day of demolition, all buildings inside the compound had been flattened or severely damaged. Israeli flags were seen raised at the site, while the United Nations (UN) flag had been taken down.
Olaf Becker, director of UNRWA affairs in Jordan, said the Israeli action gravely violates international law and poses challenges to the operations of UN agencies.
Expressing his deep concerns over Israel's unilateral action, Becker said UNRWA will continue its work in the region and make every effort to ensure that basic public services for Palestinian refugees are not interrupted.
"It's obviously in contravention to international law. It's in contravention to Israel's obligations under the UN Charter as well. While Sheikh Jarrah is highly symbolic, and of course it really impedes our ability for our leadership to operate and coordinate activities. We have offices around the West Bank as well, and we are still operational in those places," Becker said.
Following the demolition, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the compound "does not enjoy any immunity", and that the action complied with the law.
In response, Becker said Israel's denial of the privileges and immunity of UN agencies would directly undermine the legal foundation of the UN system, warning long-term impacts on UN agencies' ability to independently and effectively fulfill their duties within the framework of international law in the Middle East and globally, and worrying consequences for the UN and the multilateral system.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognized internationally, while the UN regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory. Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of employing Hamas members, which the agency denies.
In October 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning UNRWA, which provides desperately-needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and other areas, from operating in areas under Israeli jurisdiction, and prohibiting Israeli authorities from maintaining contact or cooperation with the agency, a move UNRWA and international bodies say violates international law. Israel then amended the law in December 2025 to ban electricity or water to UNRWA facilities.
Last month, Israeli authorities seized UNRWA's offices in East Jerusalem.
UNRWA official condemns Israeli demolition of agency’s buildings in East Jerusalem
