The Chinese mainland criticized on Wednesday the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan for betraying the nation in their response to the so-called maritime delimitation negotiations between Japan and the Philippines, accusing the authorities of currying favor with external forces.

Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, reiterated at a regular news conference that China possesses an exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the proposed maritime delimitation area announced by Japan and the Philippines, which lies east of Taiwan.

She denounced the DPP authorities for "bowing and scraping" in an attempt to curry favor with external forces, calling them "traitors to the nation".

While the Chinese mainland called on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to jointly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the DPP authorities asserted that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other, and China has no right to interfere or speak on behalf of Taiwan".

In response, Zhang said in the face of condemnation from people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the DPP authorities have once again hyped the fallacies of "Taiwan independence" to shift attention and mislead the public.

The DPP authorities' response to the maritime delimitation talks launched by Japan and the Philippines on May 28 has been criticized by opposition parties and political commentators as sacrificing the island's maritime interests. After expressing support for the talks on May 31, the DPP authorities later said that Taiwan had "fisheries agreements" with both countries and would continue consultations with them on maritime issues.

Zhang warned the DPP authorities that anyone who forgets their ancestors and betrays the nation will "be nailed to the pillar of shame in history".

Responding to a maritime standoff between the mainland and Taiwan in waters around the Dongsha Islands on Friday, Zhang emphasized that China has sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands, including the Dongsha Islands and their adjacent waters.

She said that law enforcement patrols by the mainland's coast guard in the relevant waters constitute the normal exercise of official duties.

Addressing claims by the DPP authorities that the mainland vessel had entered "restricted waters" around the islands, and their corresponding measures, Zhang warned that the DPP authorities would bear all consequences arising from further provocation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday that Japan and the Philippines' decision to unilaterally launch maritime delimitation negotiations while bypassing China seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the basic norms governing international relations.

"It gravely infringes upon China's maritime rights and interests," Lin said, expressing firm opposition to the move.

On June 1, the China Coast Guard conducted routine law enforcement patrols in accordance with the law in waters east of Taiwan, an operation carried out in response to the delimitation talks between Japan and the Philippines, according to Jiang Lue, spokesman for the China Coast Guard.

From June 6 to 10, the Ministry of Transport organized vessels from the maritime safety administrations of Fujian and Guangdong provinces to jointly conduct a special maritime traffic law enforcement and survey operation in waters east of Taiwan.

Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, urged Japan and the Philippines on Tuesday to immediately cease what he described as illegal and provocative actions that infringe upon China's rights and interests. He warned that if the two countries persist, they will only bring consequences upon themselves.

At the Wednesday news conference, Zhang Han also noted that with the strong backing of the motherland following peaceful reunification, people of Taiwan will enjoy greater security, and the risk of conflict arising from "Taiwan independence" will be fundamentally eliminated.

She said Taiwan people will no longer be used as "cannon fodder" for the "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda, and the island will no longer be a "pawn" of external forces.

"Taiwan fishermen operating in waters surrounding the island will receive timely and strong protection of their lawful rights and interests from the country's maritime forces," she added.

lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn