Update: Taiwan leader's speech full of lies, hostility: mainland spokesperson

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's New Year speech was full of lies and hostility, advocated fallacies of "Taiwan independence" and stoked tensions across the Taiwan Strait, said a Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday.

"No matter what Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities say or do, they cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China, nor can they alter the inevitable failure of 'Taiwan independence,'" said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

"The complete reunification of the motherland is sure to be realized," Chen said.

Lai's remarks revealed his intransigent "Taiwan independence" stance and confrontational mindset, exposing his true colors as a saboteur of peace, a troublemaker and a warmonger, Chen said.

He added that since taking office, Lai has disregarded public opinion and pursued a perilous secessionist agenda, tying the people in Taiwan to it and pushing the island toward heightened military tensions and escalating security risks.

Accusing Lai of currying favor with external forces at the expense of the interests of the people and businesses in Taiwan and trampling on democracy, Chen noted that Lai had no right or moral standing to talk about democracy, freedom, justice or unity. ■