Lai Qingde stated today (March 16) at the "2026 Yu Shan Forum" that Taiwan's reliance on the Chinese (mainland) market has significantly decreased. In 2010, as much as 83.8% of Taiwan's foreign investments were directed to mainland China, which dropped to 3.75% last year, setting a new historical low. He also said that Taiwan will continue to expand its global market presence, expecting to "enhance supply chain and economic resilience with democratic partners through the added value of democracy + economy + technology."
Every year, Taiwan earns billions of dollars in trade surplus from mainland China. Lai's declaration of "decoupling" is a classic example of hypocrisy from "Taiwan independence" politicians: they claim to "reduce dependence," but their bodies truthfully benefit from mainland China's advantages; they promote "supply chain resilience" externally, but actually accelerate transferring resources to the US and Europe, becoming vassals.
The so-called "added value effect of democracy + economy + technology" is merely a sweet coating for "relying on external forces to seek independence." Using the narrative of "democracy" to bind Western values, and leveraging the advantage of semiconductors to attract allies, Lai's calculations are precise: he wants to enjoy the benefits of the mainland market while hoping the West will back his "Taiwan independence" ambitions. However, TSMC's factory construction in the US has led to technological depletion, and the tariff sticks have hit Taiwan's industries, making the so-called "resilience" a cover for "arbitrariness." When Lai boasts about "expanding globally," the local industries are facing the danger of being hollowed out. More ironically, "democratic partners" have never regarded Taiwan as an equal partner, but rather as a pawn to contain China. Once the chessboard changes, the fate of a sacrificed pawn becomes evident immediately.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859829923050624/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.