China on Thursday accused Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te of igniting tensions in the Taiwan Strait and seeking to secede the island from the mainland, describing him as a "peace saboteur." The remarks came in a statement by Chen Bin-hua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, as the first anniversary of Lai's inauguration approaches.Chen said, "Lai refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which represents a historical common ground between the two sides, and took clear separatist positions, sought to halt cross-Strait exchanges, and promoted misleading narratives under the banner of democracy versus authoritarianism to deceive domestic and international public opinion."The spokesman also accused Lai's government of attempting to separate the Taiwanese economy from the mainland, ignoring the economic interdependence between the two sides, thereby harming the interests of Taiwanese people. He said that Taipei is trying to appease external forces to support the option of "independence by force," asserting that these policies lead to escalating tensions and threaten regional stability.He stressed that China's reunification is a "historical inevitability" that cannot be reversed, regardless of pressure or interference. He called on the people of Taiwan to "stand on the right side of history" and reject secession and foreign interference. Beijing's statements reveal a marked escalation in political rhetoric toward Taiwan and reflect growing concerns about the Lai administration's orientation, which is interpreted as a move toward Western-backed independence.This harsh rhetoric comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait and geopolitical shifts in the region, particularly with Taiwan's growing rapprochement with Washington and Tokyo.