A Chinese mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday warned Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te that colluding with external forces to provoke trouble and undermine regional peace and stability would "inevitably lead to self-destruction."

Zhang Han, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a news conference in response to Lai's recent statements proposing an increase in the "defense" budget and additional arms purchases from the United States.

"For the sake of political self-interest, the Lai authorities bow and curry favor with external forces, pandering to the United States without principles and selling out Taiwan without limits," Zhang said.

Lai recently published an opinion piece in The Washington Post proposing a $40 billion supplementary "defense" package, saying the funds would be used to purchase arms from the US military.

Zhang criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities for squandering funds that could be used to improve livelihoods and develop the economy, accusing them of prioritizing party interests and currying favor with foreign powers. "Buying weapons does not bring security; instead, it accelerates Taiwan's slide into danger," she said.

On Sunday, Taiwan social groups held a protest to express opposition to the DPP authorities' actions, criticizing what they called the hollowing out of Taiwan to curry favor with the United States and opposing the proposed increase in the "defense" budget.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission suggested in its annual report that Taiwan assist in upgrading US military bases in the Philippines through non-weapons support services.

Zhang said Taiwan's true value to the United States lies in being "fat meat" and a "cash machine," calling it "a pawn to contain the mainland and a tool to serve US interests." She warned that "persistently following the misguided path of relying on foreign powers for 'independence' will end in self-destruction."

"We firmly oppose any form of military contact between the United States and Taiwan," she said, urging Washington to adhere to the one-China principle, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and stop sending misleading signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which requires the State Department to regularly review and update guidelines governing interactions with Taiwan.

Zhang reiterated the mainland's opposition to any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan. She said the act "interferes in China's internal affairs, seriously violates the one-China principle and the spirit of the three China-US joint communiques, and sends a severely wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."