Demonstrators in China's Taiwan region call for peace and protest against Tsai Ing-wen's "stopover" in the U.S., Taipei, China, March 28, 2023. /CFP

More than 50 parties and organizations in China's Taiwan region have strongly condemned the meeting between Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen with the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, and other U.S. politicians.

The parties and organizations in Taiwan said the meeting in California undermined efforts for China's peaceful reunification, deliberately provoked the mainland and escalated tensions in the Taiwan Straits.

They added that the meeting prompted them to launch joint demonstrations against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and U.S. interference.

'One-China Principle is foundation of Taiwan question'

Wang Zheng, the leader of the action, and also the president of China Youth Development Association in Taiwan, said in a statement it is a well-known fact, based on international law, that there is only one China.

"The one-China principle is the foundation of peace and development of both sides of the Taiwan Straits," he noted.

Wang said it's also the foundation for long-lasting ties between China and the U.S., and the Taiwan question is China's domestic affair and should be addressed by the two sides of the Straits.

'U.S. uses Tsai's 'transit' to undermine one-China principle'

Wang Wulang, executive secretary of the Cross-Straits Peace and Development Forum in Taiwan, accused the U.S. of using Tsai's "transit" or "stopover" to undermine the one-China principle.

He said the U.S. was aiming to benefit its military-industrial complex and its politicians by creating a crisis in the Taiwan Straits.

"It does this to reinforce its manipulation of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, encourage separatist forces against the mainland and against reunification," he said.

Wang stressed that U.S. politicians are also provoking the mainland and testing its bottom-line and resolution in safeguarding territorial integrity.

'Tsai-McCarthy meeting clearly a provocation'

Chi Chia-Lin, president of Reunification Alliance Party in Taiwan, said McCarthy was hoping to use Taiwan to start a proxy war.

"I think it is part of the U.S. politicians' plot to destroy Taiwan, taking Taiwan to the battlefield. In fact, from selling mines to extending the military service for one year, to equipping a rocket launcher in every police station, and to encouraging everyone to take a AK47 assault rifle. This is to use Taiwan to launch a proxy war," he said.

Chi also said Tsai was using the meeting to promote so-called "Taiwan independence."

"It is clearly a provocation. Last year, the visit of Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan led to a very big crisis. This time, Tsai plans to meet McCarthy. She no doubt knows his position in the political system of the U.S. So, the attempt is a further move in seeking 'Taiwan independence' and has very bad influence," he said before the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.

'Relying on U.S. and seeking so-called independence is wrong path'

Wu Jung-yuan, chairman of the Labor Party of Taiwan, commented that the U.S. has staged wars on trade, diplomacy and finance against China. These measures can not stop China's development, and the U.S. is now using Taiwan as a tool.

"This is the most hateful thing. It knows that territorial sovereignty is one of China's core interests. That's why the U.S. is trying to put Taiwan in the firing line," Wu stressed.

He said that in this situation, people on both sides should have a strategic focus because only peaceful communication and joint development can build a beautiful homeland.

"Meanwhile, when we look at the U.S., it always uses Taiwan as a tool to curb China's development," he said.