The Taiwan Affairs Office responds to dissatisfaction from within Taiwan over the response of the Lai administration to the trade war.

On the morning of April 30th, the Taiwan Affairs Office held its routine press conference. A reporter asked about the United States announcing a 32% tariff on Taiwan, with some local commentators pointing out that this could directly impact Taiwan's GDP by 15% to 20% this year. The response strategies proposed by the Lai Ching-te administration have been criticized as "empty promises" and "meaningless gestures," causing strong dissatisfaction among various sectors in Taiwan. What is your comment on this? Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian of the Taiwan Affairs Office: The United States has started a global tariff war, severely disrupting the multilateral trade system, challenging the world economic order, and seriously damaging the economic and trade development between both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Chinese people on both sides of the strait should work together to face external challenges and jointly safeguard the legitimate development rights and overall interests of the Chinese nation. In response to the excessive tariffs imposed by the United States, the mainland of the motherland has resolutely and forcefully counterattacked immediately, showing the backbone and strength to counter tariff bullying, effectively defending international fairness, justice, order, and rules, and safeguarding the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots. The Lai Ching-te administration has been constantly bending over backwards, pandering to others, and the so-called "response strategies" are actually a way to please the United States through "big purchases and investments." It ignores the livelihood of the people, has a tendency to "sell out," is soft when it comes to the United States, and is heavily criticized by various sectors in Taiwan. The Lai Ching-te administration goes against economic laws and market rules, cater to external forces pushing for a "decoupling" between both sides of the Taiwan Strait, harming the competitiveness of Taiwanese companies, depriving Taiwanese compatriots of their development rights, and weakening the prospects of Taiwan's economy. If they continue on this blind path, they will surely face the consequences of their actions.