China blasts Taiwan's Lai as 'warmonger'

Comments come day after William Lai Ching-te said Taipei would increase defense budget by more than 3%

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - China blasted Taiwan's regional leader William Lai Ching-te on Wednesday as a "warmonger," according to a statement.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Lai was a "peace disruptor, warmonger, and troublemaker.”

The remarks were in response to Lai, who said Tuesday that Taiwan's defense spending would exceed 3%, and "China’s military activities in the Taiwan Strait and East and South China seas pose unprecedented challenges to the rules-based international order."

Zhu criticized Lai for the defense spending increase and "constantly escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait," as well as "disregarding the economy and people's livelihood on the island", "selling out Taiwan," and "damaging Taiwan's interests and weakening its economy."

He said Lai uses democracy "to deceive the public and peddle the fallacy of 'Taiwan independence.'"

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province. Taiwan rejects that claim and has insisted on maintaining its independence since 1949.

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