Mainland calls for unity across Taiwan strait to safeguard common homeland

Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should work together to eradicate the "cancer" of the "historical view" held by "Taiwan independence" separatists and jointly safeguard the common homeland and cultural roots of the Chinese nation, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the birth of national hero Zheng Chenggong, who led an expedition and expelled Dutch colonialists from Taiwan in 1624, and various commemorative activities have been held on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. However, for some time, the DPP authorities have frequently smeared Zheng.

At a press conference in Beijing, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, noted that "For a long time, the DPP authorities have been pushing for 'de-Sinicization', vigorously promoting 'cultural education' for Taiwan secession, and using the 'historical view' held by the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists to poison the Taiwanese people, especially the younger generation. They are attempting to sever the historical and cultural blood ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, incite opposition and division on the island, create barriers and divides between compatriots, and pave the way for 'Taiwan independence'. The historical records and legal facts are crystal clear that Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. The vast majority of Taiwan compatriots, including ethnic minorities, migrated from the mainland at different times in history. A large number of historical books and documents record the scenes of the Chinese people's development of Taiwan, which can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms period (220 - 280 AD)."

"In 1945, after the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, China recovered Taiwan de jure and de facto on Oct 25. Since 1949, although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet been completely unified, China's sovereignty and territory have never been divided, and Taiwan's status as a part of China's territory has never changed. The 'historical view' held by the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists distorts historical facts and turns against the overall interests of the Chinese nation. It is an outright lie and a poison that confuses people's minds. It fully exposes the abominable nature of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces who take colonizers and invaders as their fathers, betray their ancestors, and cut off their roots," Zhu said.

"'Taiwan independence' has never been a part of the history, nor is it a reality, and it has no future. No matter how the DPP authorities manipulate it, it cannot change the history and facts that the Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same roots, culture, and ethnic identity, and it cannot cut off the Chinese cultural ties that connect the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and it cannot wipe out the genes of the Chinese nation in the blood of the Taiwan compatriots. The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait must work together to eradicate the 'cancer' of the 'historical view' held by the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists and firmly safeguard the common homeland and cultural roots of the Chinese nation," Zhu said.

Mainland calls for unity across Taiwan strait to safeguard common homeland

Greece is concerned that the recent escalation in the Middle East situation may trigger a new refugee surge to Europe, Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos said Thursday in Athens.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Panagiotopoulos said Greece is paying close attention to the recent near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. He expressed the Greek government's deep concerns over a potential Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon, which may risk dragging the entire Middle East into war and result in the exodus of illegal migrants and refugees from conflict-hit areas.

Greece, as the main point of entry for refugees fleeing into Europe, may bear the brunt of a potential migrant wave, he said.

"The dramatic turn of events in our wider region, like the escalation in Lebanon for example, would probably result in much bigger flows of refugees fleeing war zones. So, obviously, Greece will be affected," Panagiotopoulos said.

Should a refugee influx occur, the minister said, all members of the European Union should share the burdening of taking in the asylum seekers and set up a new mechanism to tackle the problem.

"There is a considerable increase [in] migration flows. That's for sure. I estimated that the flows are about 50 percent higher this year. As a transit country, as an entrance country to the European Union, all countries like Greece should engage in more comprehensive dialog in order to solve the problem. We have to act as one and not in unilateral ways," he said.

From the beginning of the year to Sept. 22, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, had registered a total of 38,452 migrants and refugees in Greece - with nearly 90 percent of them arriving by sea, almost reaching the number reported in the entire year of 2023.

Greece concerned over refugee influx from in Middle East amid escalating situation: minister