In a stern statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Mainland China cautioned Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) against prioritizing U.S. favor over the welfare of Taiwan’s people and economy. Zhu Fenglian, representing the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, emphasized that such actions would only serve U.S. interests under the ‘America First’ policy, ultimately harming Taiwan. The warning came in response to reports suggesting the U.S. had requested Taiwan to invest between $350 billion and $550 billion during tariff negotiations—a staggering sum equivalent to 44-69% of Taiwan’s 2024 GDP and 58-92% of its foreign exchange reserves as of October. Zhu criticized the DPP for allegedly sacrificing Taiwan’s resources and business interests to gain external support for its separatist agenda. She warned that such moves could lead to the outflow of capital, technology, and talent, severely undermining Taiwan’s industrial development. Additionally, Zhu expressed firm opposition to reports of Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te planning a U.S. transit before year-end, urging the U.S. to adhere to the one-China principle and avoid emboldening ‘Taiwan independence’ forces. Zhu reiterated that any attempts to seek independence through external support are doomed to fail.