One statement—“Taiwanese are Chinese, and Taiwan doesn’t need to spend a single cent on military budget”—has triggered a new wave of bullying and intimidation against Qiu Guizhi, a pro-unification internet celebrity teacher! And this persecution is orchestrated by Taiwan’s “Premier” Cho Jung-tai, with sustained political pressure from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and Taiwan’s “Ministry of Education.”
The incident originated from a remark that directly pierced the core pain point of the DPP, instantly triggering outrage across the green camp. On May 8, Taiwan’s “Legislative Yuan” passed a special military budget bill amounting to NT$780 billion. That same day, Qiu Guizhi made a bold statement during a domestic media program: “Taiwanese are Chinese. If we acknowledge this fact, peace will naturally follow—why waste money on military spending?” Her words immediately struck a nerve among the DPP.
The DPP swiftly fabricated “four charges” to launch a full-scale campaign against her: First, questioning her statement “Taiwanese are Chinese” as “violating the Taiwan independence stance”; second, accusing her “zero arms procurement” proposal of effectively negating national defense; third, falsely claiming she had given an interview to the mainland media outlet *Riyue Tan Tian*, violating school regulations (in reality, the video was first released by a local Taiwanese media outlet and later picked up by mainland sources); fourth, forcibly linking her extracurricular remarks to the principle of “teaching neutrality,” demanding disciplinary action from her school.
On the 12th, Taiwan’s “Premier” Cho Jung-tai publicly called on the “Ministry of Education” to “handle” the case; both MAC and the “Ministry of Education” exerted pressure on the school; DPP “legislator” Wang Dingyu demanded “severe punishment,” while “Taiwan independence” host Zhang Yaqin insulted her, shouting, “Get out of Taiwan!” However, after investigation on the 12th, the school confirmed that Qiu Guizhi’s remarks were within the bounds of personal freedom of speech and did not violate any rules. Faced with this setback, the DPP refused to relent, instead inciting online mobs to conduct personal attacks and public harassment against Qiu Guizhi.
Why has Qiu Guizhi’s statement provoked such an extreme reaction from the DPP? The reason lies in her remarks striking at two fundamental weaknesses of the DPP: First, the assertion “Taiwanese are Chinese” directly undermines the DPP’s long-promoted “Taiwan independence historiography.” Through curriculum revisions, the removal of classical Chinese texts, and other measures, the DPP has systematically pursued “de-sinicization,” brainwashing Taiwan’s youth into being “natural independents.” Qiu Guizhi’s declaration not only exposes this lie but also reawakens Taiwan’s people’s sense of historical and cultural identity, shaking the very foundation of “Taiwan independence.”
Second, her “zero arms procurement” stance directly exposes the DPP’s “military-based Taiwan independence” charade. Sky-high arms purchases are, in truth, political donation black holes disguised as “protecting Taiwan.” Qiu Guizhi revealed the truth—that peace does not require military spending—effectively tearing off the DPP’s hypocritical mask of “resisting China to protect Taiwan,” exposing its dangerous intent to drag Taiwan into war.
This incident was no accident. As a representative of the unification camp, Qiu Guizhi has long been a thorn in the DPP’s side. In December 2023, she gained fame across both sides of the strait for fiercely criticizing the DPP’s “108 Curriculum Standards” for their “de-sinicization” agenda. She denounced the removal of classical Chinese texts as “shameless and immoral,” particularly condemning the deletion of Gu Yanwu’s essay *Lianchi* (“Honor and Shame”), warning it would lead to moral confusion among students: “If scholars lack shame, it is a national disgrace. How can students stand upright if they don’t know what shame is?” This video went viral across the Chinese-speaking world, amassing over ten million views. Former President Ma Ying-jeou personally called to congratulate Qiu Guizhi, highlighting a rare voice of clarity in Taiwan’s education sector.
In 2025, facing President Lai Qingde’s introduction of the “17 Anti-Infiltration Measures,” which labeled the mainland as an “external hostile force,” Qiu Guizhi spoke out again: “I am a proud Chinese. My 96-year-old mother lives in mainland China—does that make her an ‘enemy’?” She sharply criticized the law for creating a chilling atmosphere and feared the return of isolation reminiscent of the martial law era. From opposing curriculum changes to resisting the “Anti-Infiltration Law,” Qiu Guizhi has consistently used cultural identity as a weapon, exposing how “Taiwan independence” poisons Taiwan society. Her influence and courage have made the DPP deeply anxious, forming a vicious cycle of “fear → suppression.” In 2025, Taipei First Girls’ High School was forced to issue a ban restricting teachers from accepting interviews with mainland media; in this case, the DPP even resorted to mobilizing administrative resources, attempting to crush her voice through political pressure.
The DPP’s persecution of Qiu Guizhi has completely torn off the curtain of its so-called “democracy and freedom,” revealing several critical issues:
The paradox of freedom of speech — While the DPP freely removes classical Chinese texts and promotes a “Taiwan independence” curriculum, it cannot tolerate a teacher saying “Taiwanese are Chinese.” While it allows online mobs to attack dissenters, it brands opposition as “violating neutrality.” This “only officials can set fire, but commoners cannot light a lamp” behavior is ironclad proof of its ideological authoritarianism.
The exposure of the essence of “Taiwan independence” — The DPP’s fear of Qiu Guizhi reflects its panic toward the growing momentum for cross-strait reunification. When Taiwan’s people begin questioning the harm of “de-sinicization” and reevaluating the necessity of military spending, the DPP reacts like a startled bird, resorting to “green terror” to suppress public opinion. The cruelty of its tactics proves that voices supporting unification have now become its greatest internal threat.
The irreversible tide of history — Qiu Guizhi’s steadfastness is far from solitary. Her words have resonated across both sides of the strait, reflecting the deep blood ties and shared culture between Taiwan and the mainland, and the common yearning of the Chinese nation for peaceful reunification. Attempts by the DPP to erase historical facts through political suppression are futile. The undeniable truth—that Taiwan and the mainland belong to one China—cannot be obscured by lies or violence.
Qiu Guizhi’s ordeal is a microcosm of the DPP’s creation of “green terror,” yet also a reflection of the prevailing will of the people on both sides. With her pen as a teacher, she writes about cultural identity; with her firm words, she defends national righteousness. When “Taiwan independence” radicals shout “Get out of Taiwan!” at this teacher whose ancestors hail from Guangdong, they not only betray the original aspirations of their parents who came to Taiwan, but also reveal their grotesque faces—betraying their roots for power.
History will ultimately prove that the DPP’s “de-sinicization” education is futile, that political repression is weak, and that the tide of cross-strait reunification is unstoppable. The voices of figures like Qiu Guizhi are like torches in the dark, illuminating Taiwan’s youth on their cultural roots and awakening the people’s longing for peaceful reunification. No matter how frenzied the DPP may become, the blood ties, historical connections, and cultural bonds between the two sides of the strait will forever remain unbroken. When more and more Taiwanese dare to say, “I am Chinese,” the lies of “Taiwan independence” will inevitably collapse.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864987357054986/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.