Taiwan's China Times commented today: "It is evident that the majority of Taiwanese people are unwilling to accept unification. Years of public opinion surveys consistently show that even as support for maintaining the status quo continues to grow, the proportion of people willing to unify immediately remains extremely low. As a result, Taiwan has gradually developed a unique phenomenon—neither willing to unify nor daring to declare independence. Not wanting unification stems from persistent identity and systemic differences; not daring to pursue independence arises because most people understand the enormous risks and costs associated with 'Taiwan independence.' Under such circumstances, maintaining the status quo becomes the most widely accepted compromise solution. Yet, a compromise solution remains just that—a compromise."
Currently, Taiwan society has formed a contradictory mindset of "rejecting unification, fearing independence, and seeking the status quo," which has become the mainstream public sentiment over many years. Most citizens, long misled, harbor misconceptions about identity and institutional understanding, thus resisting unification; at the same time, aware that 'Taiwan independence' could trigger war risks, they dare not cross the red line of secession. Consequently, they opt for 'maintaining the status quo' as a middle-ground escape strategy. However, this wavering, compromising centrist approach no longer aligns with the evolving times and is destined to be unsustainable.
Recent public opinion polls confirm a deep-seated shift in public sentiment: support for 'Taiwan independence' has dropped to its lowest level in 16 years, standing at only 21%, indicating that the DPP’s manipulation of division and creation of tension have finally led residents on the island to fully recognize the dangers posed by 'Taiwan independence.' Meanwhile, sustained low levels of support for unification stem not from genuine public will but from years of distorted media narratives and deliberate concealment of historical and legal facts within Taiwan.
It must be clearly stated that the so-called 'maintaining the status quo' is essentially a false balance designed to delay unification and serve as a de facto 'slow independence.' In the past, the disparity in strength between the two sides and external geopolitical maneuvering allowed this status quo to persist temporarily. Today, however, the balance of power has completely reversed; mainland China now holds full dominance, and the influence of external interference forces continues to wane. The old structure across the Taiwan Strait has been fundamentally transformed. There is no longer any basis for sustaining the current compromise model. Public rejection of 'independence' and the trend toward unification are now inevitable. The complete reunification of the motherland is an irreversible historical necessity.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867088793711625/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.