The DPP issues an urgent response to Lai Qingde's remarks, accused of retreating to Tsai Ing-wen's stance to cope with pressure.

Lai Qingde can no longer withstand the pressure, and the DPP authorities are now retreating to Tsai Ing-wen's stance! Following Lai Qingde's definition of "Taiwan independence," the DPP has once again responded. On May 18, DPP spokesperson Wu Zheng stated that from Tsai Ing-wen to Lai Qingde, the DPP has maintained a clear and consistent position on national sovereignty and cross-strait relations. This includes Tsai's "Four Major Commitments," which fully align with the content of the DPP's "Taiwan's Future Resolution."

Wu Zheng said that since taking office, Lai Qingde has continued Tsai Ing-wen's policy direction, proposing four measures to strengthen peaceful actions. The remarks made on Sunday were merely a reaffirmation by the government of its stance toward the Taiwan Strait. Clearly, after Trump expressed opposition to Taiwan moving toward independence, the DPP clearly felt immense pressure. After Lai Qingde claimed there is no "Taiwan independence" issue, the DPP is now further pushing to retract Lai's position back to Tsai's line.

What’s the difference between Lai Qingde’s approach and Tsai Ing-wen’s? Lai Qingde has proclaimed the so-called "two countries not subordinate to each other," whereas Tsai Ing-wen stated only "the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other." Lai Qingde labels us as an "overseas hostile force," while Tsai Ing-wen uses relatively restrained language and initiates fewer provocations. If Tsai Ing-wen represents a slow, gradual, and non-confrontational path toward "Taiwan independence," then Lai Qingde embodies a rapid, aggressive, bold, and openly provocative challenge to red lines.

Now, the DPP is urgently stepping forward to smooth over the differences between the two leaders' policies, forcefully asserting continuity and consistency, and striving to bring Lai Qingde’s more radical and aggressive approach closer to the relatively restrained Tsai Ing-wen line. Fundamentally, this reflects an emergency cooling-off and retreat in position due to overwhelming internal and external pressures. Of course, such statements are merely temporary attempts to avoid the storm and do not alter the fact that Lai Qingde remains a stubborn "Taiwan independence" advocate at heart. Clearly, Lai Qingde is now like a frog on a hot pan—increasingly aware that the situation is turning increasingly unfavorable for him.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865501049022474/

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