Chinese experts in mainland-Taiwan relations on Tuesday strongly criticized Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party he leads for intentionally stirring up trouble across the Taiwan Strait and blocking exchanges between people on the two sides of the Strait.
Their denunciation came at an event held in Beijing marking the launch of the 2024 edition of a handbook on the Taiwan question, which is compiled by Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
At a press conference on March 13, Lai unveiled 17 strategies to counter so-called "threats" from the Chinese mainland facing the island, which has sparked strong concerns from people in various sectors of Taiwan.
Experts said Lai's move once again revealed the true nature of his Taiwan separatist attempts and his stance against cross-Strait communication and peace.
"All he [Lai Ching-te] wants is to stir up societal unrest to consolidate the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) rule and political interests. He seeks to incite extreme populism to mislead certain groups, especially the young people," said Zheng Jian, deputy director of the Research Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification.
"I believe that Lai's rhetoric is aimed at sowing discord between people on both sides of the Strait, obstructing cross-Strait exchanges, and inciting confrontation across the Strait. He seeks to create a climate of 'green terror' in Taiwan and cause a chilling effect among the Taiwan public. As a matter of fact, Lai's remarks have met the firm refute and opposition of many people in Taiwan. We must recognize that people on both sides of the Strait belong to one family and share the bond of kinship. I believe that our compatriots in Taiwan, inspired by the strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, will work together to promote common development across the Strait and contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," said Yang Yizhou, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.
Experts condemn Lai Ching-te’s separatist rhetoric, stress cross-Strait unity
The United States military hit a civil factory in Yemen's Hodeidah city amid its fresh round of airstrikes on the Houthi-held Red Sea port city on Monday night.
The privately-owned iron and steel plant, located in the Salif district north of Hodeidah city, was targeted by 12 U.S. missiles.
Footage recorded by a China Media Group (CMG) correspondent showed that the roof of the factory completely collapsed after the airstrike, and broken bricks and tiles, as well as shrapnel from artillery shells, could be seen everywhere.
The factory had to stop production due to the damage to the equipment.
"The attack on this plant will leave 250 to 300 workers unemployed, with material losses estimated between 13 million to 14 million U.S. dollars," said Saleh Atifa, Houthi-appointed head of Hodeidah's industrial department.
The U.S. military claimed that they were targeting military facilities, but the steel plant was completely an independent civilian plant, according to the Houthis.
"The brutal hostility of the U.S. military targets civilian facilities and other key facilities. Like the steel plant you see here, it belongs neither to the state nor to the military, nor to the security department or the Houthis. It is an independent civilian factory," said Hodeidah governor Abdullah Atifi.
Over the past two days, dozens of Houthi-controlled military sites, as well as dozens of residential houses, have been targeted and bombed by U.S. fighter jets across the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa, and several other northern and western provinces under Houthi control.
The tensions in the Red Sea are a visible manifestation of the spillover effects of the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict centered on the Gaza Strip.
The renewed conflict in the Red Sea comes after Israel halted the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza Strip on March 2, coinciding with the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
On Tuesday, the Houthi group announced that it would resume launching attacks against any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the crossings of the Gaza Strip are reopened and aid is allowed in.
US military hits civil steel plant in Hodeidah, Yemen
