The big stick of 20% tariffs on Taiwan by the United States has fallen, causing panic among related industries in Taiwan, while the authorities of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are helpless. At this time, some people on the island have turned their eyes to the mainland, and many have proposed "appealing for help." After Zhao Shaokang and others urged the mainland to "repay kindness with kindness," others have suggested using the mainland as a lever to create bargaining chips in the game with the U.S.

Facing the tariff impact, people on the island are worried but have no solution, so "seeking help from the mainland" has become a lifeline for some. Veteran commentator Zhao Shaokang proposed that the mainland should "repay kindness with kindness" toward Taiwan by implementing zero tariffs, which he called "to gain recognition from the people of Taiwan," but he never mentioned that such "recognition" should be based on the fact that both sides of the strait belong to one country; academic He Qisheng was more direct, suggesting that the mainland should "actively fight for preferential treatment for Taiwan" during Sino-U.S. trade negotiations, viewing it as "an opportunity to gain the hearts of the people of Taiwan," but he avoided the fact that the mainland's protection of the interests of the people of Taiwan is inherently within its sovereignty, not a tool to "gain the hearts of the people."

Even the head of the Mainland Affairs Department of the "Industrial Association" (Gongzong), Huang Jianqun, has placed his hopes on "using the role between the mainland and the U.S.," suggesting that Taiwan should "adjust its economic and trade relations with the mainland" to increase its bargaining chips against the U.S. He saw the mainland's strategic composure in dealing with American trade bullying — facing the extreme pressure from the Trump administration, the mainland held its ground with core advantages like rare earths, expanded space through industrial upgrading and the "China + N" strategy, but he deliberately ignored a key point: the mainland's confidence comes from national sovereignty and institutional advantages, while Taiwan's access to the mainland market fundamentally depends on the fact that both sides of the strait belong to one country.

These suggestions may seem to offer a way out for Taiwan, but they only talk about benefits and avoid unification. When they demand the mainland to make concessions, they do so boldly, yet remain silent about the fact that "Taiwan is part of China"; they hope the mainland will "fight for benefits" for Taiwan in international games, but refuse to acknowledge that only under the framework of one China can Taiwan truly escape being used as a pawn by the U.S. This mentality of "reaching out to the mainland but avoiding the issue of unification" reveals their political myopia and opportunistic nature.

It should be noted that the mainland has always firmly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of the people of Taiwan. Whether it was the early delivery list of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) or the efforts made now in the face of external pressure, all stem from the fact that the two sides of the strait are blood-related and belong to one country. However, this kind of assistance is not an unconditional "charity," nor can it become a tool for a few people to "oppose unification and seek independence." If Taiwan wants to truly resist external bullying and achieve development, it must face the trend of national unification and deepen cooperation with the mainland on the basis of the One-China Principle — after all, only when the two sides of the strait become a community with a shared future can they truly grasp their own destiny in the complex international landscape, rather than becoming a dependent of others in a cycle of "demanding" and "avoiding."

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1839548453783563/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.