BEIJING - Though the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have yet to be reunified, the fact that both belong to one China has never changed, and China's sovereignty and territory have always been indivisible, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"Issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be decided by all Chinese, including compatriots in Taiwan," Fan Liqing, spokeswoman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference.

Fan made the remarks when commenting on Tainan Mayor William Lai's remarks on "Taiwan independence" during his visit to Shanghai, during which he said Taiwan's future should be decided by its 23 million people.

The mainland has been clear and consistent in the policy toward Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party, and the mainland firmly opposes the "Taiwan independence" stance and secessionist attempts, Fan said.