BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A mainland spokesperson on Wednesday criticized Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities for squandering money -- which could have been used to improve people's livelihoods and develop the island's economy -- on weapon purchases and currying favor with external forces, warning that such selfish acts will only push Taiwan toward disaster.

Peng Qing'en, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te's recent claim of plans "to propose a special defense budget worth 40 billion U.S. dollars."

"The trend of China's reunification is unstoppable. Attempts to seek independence through U.S. support or by force are destined to fail," Peng said.

When commenting on a sarcastic saying that the United States regards Taiwan as its ATM, he said that such remarks prove again and again that the U.S. treats Taiwan as a chess piece to contain China and a tool to serve itself.

"Incapable of protecting the legitimate interests of Taiwan's people, the DPP authorities instead squander the people's hard-earned money to fawn over the U.S., which will end up being discarded after being exploited," he said.

Peng also expressed firm opposition to proposals from certain U.S. senators to legalize the "Six Assurances to Taiwan Act," denouncing the so-called six assurances as "completely wrong, illegal and invalid."

"They gravely violate the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, as well as the basic norms of international relations," he said. Enditem