BEIJING, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- China's angry reaction Wednesday to a speech delivered by Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian cast more heat than light on cross-straits reunification talks.
In the mainland's first formal reaction to Chen's address on Oct. 10, Zhang Mingqing, spokesman of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, lambasted the Taiwan president during a televised press conference in Beijing.
"Facts have fully shown that Chen Shui-bian puts on shows of trying to ease tension, but what he is really doing is to promote Taiwan independence," he said.
The spokesman said Chen has escalated "separatist activities both in Taiwan and internationally" since May this year.
Zhang stated Taiwanese authorities have tried to separate the island from the mainland by "so-called" constitutional reform, reducing the prominence of China in Taiwan's official title, its bid to join the United Nations as well as speeding up arms purchases and "clamoring for war with the motherland."
While analysts considered Chen's speech mildly conciliatory, China's vitriolic response contained nothing new in furthering dialogue to resolve the half-century-old crisis.
