Members of local Chinese American community protest against the "stopover" by Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen in the US violating the one-China principle in front of the hotel where Tsai was scheduled to stay in Los Angeles April 4, 2023. (LIA LIU / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING – Experts on cross-Straits relations said as Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen conducted political activities in the United States under the guise of a "transit" trip, it is completely justified, reasonable and necessary for Chinese authorities to take countermeasures.

Tsai’s act in the US in essence was a provocation aimed at seeking "Taiwan independence" by relying on the US, they said.

The countermeasures show China's rational and responsible attitude to safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, according to the experts.

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"The US anti-China forces and Tsai hit it off right away, and the former openly supported her provocative moves to seek 'Taiwan independence,'" said Li Peng, head of the Graduate Institute for Taiwan Studies of Xiamen University.

China is determined to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will honor its words with deeds.

Li Zhenguang, Professor, Beijing Union University

As pointed out by Taiwan news commentator Lai Yueh-tchienn, Tsai's activities during her "transit" trip through the US were a political show to pander to US anti-China forces.

Tsai's "transit" trip has brought new turmoil across the Taiwan Straits, said Li Zhenguang, a Taiwan affairs professor at Beijing Union University, adding that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities colluding with US anti-China forces violated the one-China principle first, and China has no choice but to take countermeasures, which is fully justified, reasonable and necessary.

"China is determined to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will honor its words with deeds. Also, China upholds peace and stability in the Straits with a rational and responsible attitude," said Li Zhenguang.

Liu Xiangping, an expert on Taiwan studies at Nanjing University, pointed out that the DPP authorities' attempts to seek "Taiwan independence" by relying on the US have escalated tensions across the Straits, leading to growing dissatisfaction and criticism on the island.

"It is mainstream public opinion on the island to choose peace over war, and development over confrontation," said Zhu Songling, professor at Beijing Union University, citing the strong call on the island to resume cross-Straits exchanges.

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The future of Taiwan lies in national reunification, Liu said. He called on people in Taiwan to resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces, and join hands with mainland compatriots to safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation.