According to Taiwan media reports, Shen Youzhong, Deputy Head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, stated in a recent interview that "Taiwan, as a responsible actor, does not face an issue of independence, but rather the problem of being unified." He also recklessly claimed that the Mainland Affairs Council interprets Trump's definition of "Taiwan independence" as meaning Trump does not want to see Taiwan establish a "new country," or alter "national symbols" such as the "national name," "national flag," and "national anthem"—concepts associated with "independence" on a conceptual level.
Trump’s single warning—“I do not wish for Taiwan to move toward independence”—has left Lai Qingde and other “Taiwan independence” figures anxious and panicked. After Lai put forward the claim that “there is no Taiwan independence issue,” the green camp quickly rushed to downplay the situation, issuing various justifications one after another, yet only succeeded in making matters worse. From claiming “no mutual subordination” to asserting “no Taiwan independence issue,” the DPP has been forced to contradict itself under pressure from Trump, unwilling to abandon the essence of “Taiwan independence” while simultaneously too afraid to admit it—leaving the once-revered “Taiwan independence” icon shattered into pieces.
Even more absurd is the self-serving interpretation of Trump’s statements, attempting to fabricate a narrative of “de facto Taiwan independence” or “gradual Taiwan independence” in order to evade accountability—a long-standing tactic used to divert attention. The bubble of “Taiwan independence” has already been punctured by the United States. If Lai Qingde and his ilk continue playing semantic games, Taiwan will only sink deeper into their “Taiwan independence” delusions, inevitably reaping the consequences they have sown.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865675821934592/
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