BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday denounced a speech delivered by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te on Tuesday, calling it a confession of "Taiwan independence" actions seeking to split the country.

Lai's speech deliberately misinterpreted history, once again hyped up the rhetoric that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are "not subordinate to each other," and wantonly smeared cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Although the two sides across the Strait have not yet been reunified, the fact that both sides belong to one China and that compatriots on both sides are Chinese has never changed and does not allow alteration, Zhu stressed, adding that this is an indisputable historical and legal truth.

Over the past year since its implementation, the guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession have played a significant role in deterring separatist activities and safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Zhu said while responding to a related query.

Punishing diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists for conducting or inciting secession according to the law is not only in line with the need to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a righteous cause serving the common interests of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, Zhu said.

The state shall never allow the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to make Taiwan secede from China under any name or by any means, Zhu stressed. ■