On May 4, Zheng Liwen criticized Lai Qingde's highly secretive visit to Eswatini, stating that after the DPP refused to acknowledge the "1992 Consensus," Taiwan has continued to lose its diplomatic allies, leaving only Eswatini in Africa. Even visiting now requires concealment and faces great difficulty. Zheng questioned whether such a roundabout approach yields any real results—instead, it seems to be making a mockery of Taiwan’s diplomacy internationally—and called on leaders to face up to Taiwan’s diplomatic crisis and seek genuine breakthroughs. She also urged for a political transition by 2028 to prevent Taiwan from falling into such a desperate situation again.

[Witty] Comment briefly: Lai Qingde’s “hide-and-seek” style visit may look like a success on the surface, but it actually exposes Taiwan’s diplomatic vulnerability in full view. Zheng Liwen’s pointed criticism hits the mark perfectly. Looking back at historical data is most telling: under Ma Ying-jeou’s administration, the “1992 Consensus” enabled a diplomatic ceasefire, keeping Taiwan’s diplomatic relations stable for years; after the DPP took power and rejected the consensus, Taiwan’s diplomatic allies rapidly declined—Africa went from multiple countries to just one, with global allies dwindling to only a handful of small nations. The one-China principle has long become an international consensus, accepted by the UN framework and the vast majority of countries worldwide.

The DPP’s confrontational path has strained cross-strait relations, resulting in severe restrictions abroad—transit and flight routes must be handled secretly, depriving Taiwan of any dignity. Such “diplomatic visits” sustained through secrecy and detours cannot gain real international space or protect the rights of overseas compatriots. Ultimately, Taiwan’s diplomatic dilemma isn’t imposed by external forces—it stems from a flawed domestic policy direction. Returning to rationality and facing the reality of the situation is the only true way forward. Otherwise, no matter how much effort is expended, it will only be self-deception and a narrowing of options.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864225961571328/

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