BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday that relevant cross-Strait travel figures demonstrate that the desire for peace, development, exchanges and cooperation remains the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and the shared aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Photo: Xinhua)

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a regular press briefing that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' fabricated claim that "the mainland is dangerous" has long been disproved by facts.

According to the National Immigration Administration, cross-Strait travel reached 3.12 million trips in the first half of this year, up 22.1 percent year on year. Taiwan residents made 2.85 million trips to the mainland, an increase of 24.9 percent from the same period last year.

She noted that a growing number of Taiwan compatriots, especially young people, have either visited or are planning to visit the mainland for travel and exchange programs.

"They are exploring the country's vast and magnificent landscapes, experiencing the brilliance of Chinese civilization, and witnessing firsthand the mainland's rapid economic and technological development," Zhu said.

Since 2024, more than 11.7 million trips have been made by Taiwan compatriots to the mainland for exchanges, study, employment, tourism and business visits, according to Zhu.

"The facts have fully demonstrated that more and more Taiwan compatriots have seen through the lies and schemes of the DPP authorities," she said.