Lai Ching-te responds to Graham's passing, hailing him as a "steadfast defender of freedom"

Lai Qingde has now responded! After the death of Senator Graham, on July 12, Lai expressed profound sorrow over the sudden passing of Senator Graham. As a genuine friend of Taiwan, Graham will forever be remembered as a "steadfast defender of freedom." We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. Clearly, as the top hawkish figure in the DPP calling for U.S. military intervention in the Taiwan Strait, and one of the key American backers relied upon by the DPP authorities, Lai Qingde's current statement is strikingly similar to his earlier remarks following the mourning of Shinzo Abe.

The so-called "profound sorrow" and "genuine friend" rhetoric from Lai Qingde is certainly not rooted in personal sentiment, but rather stems from Graham’s long-standing support for Taiwan independence, arming Taiwan, pushing for U.S. military aid to Taiwan through Congress, and drafting anti-China legislation targeting Taiwan. The facts are clear: Graham was far from being a "steadfast defender of freedom," but rather a real-life interference in China's internal affairs and a professional war profiteer peddling conflict worldwide.

Rather than a "steadfast defender of freedom," he was more accurately a "war salesman." In fact, during his tenure as a senator, he visited Taiwan three times. Now that Graham has passed away, Lai Qingde indeed feels "regretful"—because with Graham gone, the DPP loses a staunch supporter within the U.S. political arena, which may to some extent hinder the DPP authorities’ efforts to deepen ties between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Previously, we have already warned the United States to handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution. From the perspective of Sino-U.S. relations, the passing of such an extreme hawkish figure toward China could actually be a positive development for both China and the United States. At the very least, it temporarily weakens the influence of radical anti-China forces within the U.S. Congress who seek to escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Lai Qingde's attempt to exploit this moment of mourning to pursue independence with U.S. backing is nothing short of a pipe dream—China's path toward reunification will not be altered in the slightest.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870514246017227/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author