Reference News Network, October 30 report (text by Wang Mian) The media in Taiwan has generally paid attention to the fact that the mainland has recently increased its voice on cross-strait issues and has been taking continuous actions towards Taiwan, including the Foreign Ministry reiterating the "position paper of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758", refuting the so-called "status of Taiwan is undetermined" theory; the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office set up a Facebook account directly interacting with Taiwanese people; setting up the "Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Day"; and Xinhua News Agency continuously published articles signed as "Zhong Taiwen" discussing unification. Some Taiwanese media believe that "after a series of consecutive punches, it feels like the entire cross-strait system has 'started moving'."

Xinhua News Agency started publishing three consecutive days from the 26th, articles signed as "Zhong Taiwen": "The Origin and Nature of the Taiwan Issue", "The Development of Cross-Strait Relations and the Benefits of Unification", and "The Inevitability of National Reunification". These three articles have caused widespread attention in Taiwan.

Taiwan United News Network reported on October 27 that after the establishment of the "Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Day" by the mainland, Xinhua News Agency published an article signed as "Zhong Taiwen", mainly aiming to define the "Taiwan issue", emphasizing the identity of "the Chinese nation and Chinese people", emphasizing to the domestic and cross-strait that the Taiwan issue is the problem of "the Chinese people on both sides of the strait", and to the outside, especially to the US, to demonstrate the firm position that the Taiwan issue should not be interfered with by external forces. The report believes that "this article can be seen as Beijing's prelude to strengthening the promotion of unification".

Scholars in Taiwan believe that the release of these three articles is part of a series of actions by the mainland, "Beijing continues to advance the process of unification".

Wang Xinxian, professor at the Department of East Asian Studies of National Chengchi University and director of the Center for International Relations Research, stated that looking at the article in the context of Beijing's cross-strait policy, the mainland is gradually promoting policies for the unification of Taiwan, including using legal methods to advance it.

Zeng Weifeng, associate researcher at the Center for International Relations Research of National Chengchi University, analyzed that the articles signed as "Zhong Taiwen" should be written by the Central Committee of the Taiwan Affairs Office, equivalent to the official expression of the Communist Party's position on Taiwan, symbolizing that Beijing's cross-strait policy has entered a new stage. He believes the article is very important.

Regarding the timing of the release, Zeng Weifeng analyzed that the article aligns with the recent policy steps of the Communist Party. This year, the Communist Party has been advancing in a "combination punch" way in diplomacy, law, and propaganda. He said: "From diplomacy to internal affairs and then to cross-strait relations, this is the Communist Party's combination punch, firmly grasping the right to interpret the Taiwan issue (history and law)."

The related reports have received widespread attention from the public in Taiwan, triggering intensive discussions.

In PTT, a forum with significant influence in Taiwan and popular among young people, discussions about unification have never stopped since October. Topics with high participation include "Xinhua News Agency again published an article talking about the benefits of unification: 'Patriots govern Taiwan after unification'", "Has the process of unification begun?", "Should we prepare for life after unification?"

Netizens in Taiwan have engaged extensively, with some topics having thousands of comments.

Many netizens are concerned about the benefits of unification for their lives: "Free shipping on Taobao, no inspection clearance", "After unification, you can freely use air conditioning", "After unification, do I not have to serve in the military?", "Cars become cheaper."

Some netizens initiated the topic "One person says one advantage of national reunification," with comments including "increased economic strength", "more manpower", "military conscription becomes voluntary service, everyone can go home", "buying new high-speed rail cars, new metro cars, buying self-driving cars", "getting a passport recognized by other countries."

In the topic "What conditions for unification would the people of Taiwan accept," many mentioned that "the less change in life, the better," and some left messages saying, "As long as the corruption cases of the Democratic Progressive Party are thoroughly investigated, it will be acceptable."

Originally, under the intimidation and manipulation of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, talking about "unification" became a taboo in Taiwan. However, after the mainland's continuous statements and actions, the taboo was broken, and the public in Taiwan began to seriously think and discuss the impact of unification on themselves. As one netizen commented, "the people on both sides of the strait are one family, and the dream of a shared Chinese nation is the direction of the efforts of the people on both sides."

PTT screenshot

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566903641551028776/

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