TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s top government agency handling cross-strait affairs, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), slammed Beijing for being “extremely ridiculous and deceitful” about its policy towards Taiwan in a statement issued Tuesday.

Liu Jieyi (劉結一), director of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), said on Monday the “one-China, two systems” formula for Taiwan, reiterated by communist leader Xi Jinping during his Jan. 2 talk, shows that Beijing treats Taiwanese people with “care and understanding.”

Liu told the media during a brief interview after attending a meeting of China’s National People's Congress that the Chinese government will insist on seeking “peaceful unification” and the “one-China, two systems” arrangement for Taiwan, which he considers “the best way” for the island country under the reign of the communist party.

The arrangement attends to the real situation of Taiwan, and Taiwanese people will lead a more secure and peaceful life under such arrangement on the condition that China’s national sovereignty, security, development, and interests are ensured, added Liu.

Liu’s remark was later blasted by the MAC for being “extremely ridiculous and deceitful” via a statement released the next day. It criticized Beijing for undermining Taiwan’s national sovereignty and dignity, and for damaging the nation’s democratic system.

Taiwanese people and the international community will not accept the authoritarian regime’s plan to impose its “one-China, two systems” policy on Taiwan, said MAC, adding that the government will firmly defend the nation’s sovereignty and safeguard the rights and wellbeing of Taiwanese people.

The MAC also urged Beijing that instead of targeting Taiwan with its propaganda and military intimidation, it should focus on dealing with its own domestic and foreign problems for the moment.