Beijing: China on Wednesday criticized Taiwan's zero tariffs policy against the United States, describing it as "turning the other cheek," according to state media reports.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for China's Taiwan affairs office, accused the administration led by Lai Ching-te of selling Taiwan's core competitive industries in pursuit of independence, only to face steep tariffs from Washington. She argued that this situation has shattered the illusion of a beneficial US-Taiwan relationship, reducing Taiwan from a "pawn" to a "discarded piece."

Earlier, Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te stated that Taipei would not retaliate with tariffs against those imposed by Washington. Instead, the island plans to increase imports of US goods to help reduce the trade deficit. Zhu criticized this approach, suggesting that the "large procurement and investment plan" proposed by the Lai administration was an attempt to appease the US, which she described as an obsequious act of "turning the other cheek."

In a related development, Taiwan's semiconductor giant TSMC announced plans to invest an additional $100 billion in the US. This move comes as US President Donald Trump had imposed a 32% tariff on goods from Taiwan, although the measures were later paused for 90 days on most countries except China, with a baseline tariff of 10% remaining in place.

Zhu further claimed that TSMC's investment was a political pledge by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities seeking Taiwan's independence by aligning with the US. She suggested that it was only a matter of time before Taiwan's semiconductor industry would be handed over by Lai Ching-te, whom she labeled as a "professional traitor of Taiwan."

Chinese tariffs on US imports remain at 125%, while Washington has raised tariffs on Chinese imports up to 245%. Reacting to statements made by Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command during a Congressional hearing, Zhu urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle, stop interfering in the Taiwan question, and refrain from sending erroneous signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.