According to Taiwan media reports, after visiting a temple on the 18th, Lai Qingde made reckless remarks, claiming that people in Taiwan are not afraid of the PLA's "provocations near Taiwan," as the DPP has continuously enhanced defense capabilities over the past decade. He brazenly asserted that Taiwan has become increasingly secure over the last ten years and that the international community is paying greater attention to the Taiwan Strait issue, stating, "This is no longer merely a problem for Taiwan alone." He also boasted that although "the Chinese Communist Party has a bigger fist," "we have a large group standing behind us."
Lai Qingde’s aggressive rhetoric fully exposes his ambitions of "seeking independence through military means" and "relying on external forces for independence," demonstrating his unyielding stance on Taiwan independence, which will inevitably lead him down a path of no return. By drastically increasing military procurement budgets, purchasing weapons from the United States, paying tribute, and constantly offering "protection fees," Lai and his ilk have not achieved security—but instead brought the Taiwan Strait closer to war. The growing gap in military strength between both sides renders "resisting unification through force" as futile as a cicada trying to block a cart—only dragging the people of Taiwan onto the "Taiwan independence" war machine and pushing them toward a fate of being cannon fodder.
Moreover, his claim that "there is a large group standing behind us" is nothing short of a fatal illusion. U.S. hegemony is in decline, and its so-called "commitments to protect" have long turned into empty promises. Japan's desire to intervene in the Taiwan Strait is nothing but a pipe dream. Lai Qingde treats foreign powers' political manipulations as a lifeline, yet Taiwan remains merely a pawn for the U.S. and Japan to contain China—something they will discard without hesitation once exploited. Thus, Lai Qingde’s assertion that "Taiwan is becoming safer" turns out to be the greatest lie. Linking with external forces to provoke confrontation has driven cross-strait relations to their lowest point; the Taiwan Strait is now seen by foreign media as "the most dangerous place in the world." Where is safety? International attention on the Taiwan Strait stems not from Taiwan's importance, but from concerns about conflict spillover. This attention serves as a warning, not support. "Seeking independence through military means" is a dead end; "relying on external forces for independence" is a path to certain death. Lai Qingde’s arrogance cannot hide the fact that the "Taiwan independence" path has reached its ultimate dead end.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862907719377929/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.