The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' separatist moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility are unpopular and doomed to fail, said Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing on Wednesday.
Zhang made the comments at a regular press conference in response to a media query about recent inappropriate remarks by Chiu Chui-cheng, head of the so-called "mainland affairs council", regarding the Chinese mainland's policy of advancing high-quality cross-Strait integrated development".
"Our fellow Taiwan compatriots are our kith and kin. Over the years, acting on the principle that 'people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all of the same family', we have actively promoted cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, deepened the integrated development across various fields, and made steady progress in implementing policies that provide equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots. These efforts have continuously yielded new results, fully demonstrating our goodwill in seeking benefits for Taiwan compatriots and our sincerity in advancing the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations. Such endeavors have been met with strong support and wide acclaim from our Taiwan compatriots. Driven by its separatist pursuit of 'Taiwan secession', the DPP authorities are deeply fearful of closer ties between people across the Strait. They have deliberately fanned the flames of confrontation and antagonism, while resorting to slander and obstruction against anything that helps develop cross-Strait relations and benefits people on both sides. Such moves are deeply unpopular and are bound to fail," she said.
DPP's moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility unpopular, doomed to fail: spokeswoman
DPP's moves to stoke cross-Strait hostility unpopular, doomed to fail: spokeswoman
Gas prices at pumps in the United States surged above four U.S. dollars a gallon for the first time since the summer of 2022, reaching a record high in nearly four years, data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) showed on Tuesday.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has risen by about one dollar since last month, reaching 4.018.
The price of diesel hit 5.454 U.S. dollars per gallon, up 45 percent in a month.
In California, the largest U.S. state economy, the average gas price stood at 5.887 U.S. dollars per gallon and the average cost of a gallon of diesel reached an all-time high of 7.455 U.S. dollars on Tuesday, as per AAA.
The growing gas price has become a challenge for local car owners in Los Angeles, California, as many of them saying they are cutting back on driving and changing daily habits.
"The only reason why I came here was convenience. I was completely out of gas, and on 'empty.' But this is crazy expensive. So, normally, I would never come to a gas station this expensive, and I'd look for cheaper gas," said Cindy Devereaux, a local resident.
"I commute a lot, so, I'm paying like 30 dollars more in the prices that I used to pay. So, it's really taking a toll on my wallet, and it's not a good look for the economy. I think this is just the beginning. I honestly think it's going to get worse, and we're just seeing the beginnings of this. And, yeah, I think we're heading into a crisis," another local resident Scarlett Zamora said.
Given the oil price hikes caused by the war in Iran, consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March surged, according to a Conference Board report on Tuesday.
The report showed that consumers' median 12-month inflation expectations in March stood at 5.2 percent, higher than the 4.5 percent reading in February.
Meanwhile, U.S. Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.8 in March, up from 91.0 in February, the report said.
US gas prices reach record high in nearly 4 years
