BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday warned that no matter how many times Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te repeats his lies, they remain lies and will never become truth.

Zhang Han, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 3, 2025. (File photo: Xinhua)

Zhang Han, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference in response to a media query concerning Lai's recent speech claiming that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent state and hyping up the so-called "democracy versus authoritarianism" narrative.

"Taiwan has never been a country -- not in the past, not now, and certainly never will be in the future," Zhang said.

The Lai Ching-te authorities are so used to flaunting the banner of "democracy" to deceive and grandstand on the international stage, colluding with anti-China forces in certain countries and using a so-called summit to spread false narratives, according to Zhang.

By stoking confrontation across the Taiwan Strait and engaging in separatist activities, what they did at the summit was nothing but a complete political farce that the world has long since seen through and will only be met with the contempt of all Chinese people, the spokesperson said.

"Lai's clumsy performance cannot conceal the despicable acts and authoritarian nature of his administration, which has continuously suppressed political dissent and stifled free speech on the island," Zhang said.

She urged relevant institutions to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question and the grave harm posed by "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, abide by the one-China principle, and stop providing the Democratic Progressive Party authorities with openings to pursue their separatist agenda internationally.