The Democratic Progressive Party's stubborn "Taiwan independence" separatist stance, their refusal to acknowledge the "1992 Consensus" and continual provocations with attempts to seek "independence" in collusion with external forces are the root cause of the current complex and severe situation in the Taiwan Strait, Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday.

Chen made these remarks following the inaugural speech of Taiwan's new leader Lai Ching-te today.

Chen noted that in today's speech, the island's leader stubbornly maintained a "Taiwan independence" stance, extensively propagated separatist fallacies, incited cross-Strait opposition and confrontation, and attempted to "seek independence by relying on external forces" and "seek independence by using military force".

The mainstream public opinion in Taiwan is for peace, not war; for development, not decline; for exchange, not separation; and for cooperation, not confrontation, Chen said.

Taiwan's leader, disregarding public opinion and going against the current, has sent out a dangerous signal of provocation by seeking "independence" and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. This fully exposes his nature as a "Taiwan independence worker", he said.

The mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, he said. "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Strait are mutually exclusive.

Chen reaffirmed the mainland's firm resolve to resolve the Taiwan question, achieve national reunification, and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "We will not tolerate or condone any form of 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities."

The changes in Taiwan's situation and leadership cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, nor can they change the basic structure and direction of cross-Strait relations, nor stop the trend toward reunification.

"We will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and the '1992 Consensus', unite the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots, strive to promote the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and firmly advance the cause of national reunification," he said.