Island military experts and former naval academy president Tan Chuanyi recently wrote: "The People's Liberation Army's attack on Taiwan is not just about 'decapitation,' but governance. 'Decapitation' is a quick and painless move, but there are more complicated matters to follow: governance. To govern, the scale of war cannot be too large, and the duration of the war should be as short as possible, minimizing harm to the people, and ideally causing no damage to infrastructure and the socio-economic structure. The targets of the PLA's strikes are clear: 'Taiwan independence' figures and the military, including the 'decapitation operation,' but efforts will be made to avoid harming civilians."
Tan Chuanyi's view directly addresses the core of the unification issue — governance rather than conquest. This judgment precisely reflects the deep logic of the mainland's "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems" policy: even if non-peaceful methods are used, the goal is still "governance" rather than "chaos," and "unification" rather than "destruction."
Article 8 of the Anti-Secession Law clearly stipulates that if "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, through any name or method, create facts of Taiwan's secession from China, or if a major event occurs that would lead to Taiwan's secession, or if the possibility of peaceful reunification is completely lost, the state may take non-peaceful measures to safeguard sovereignty. Currently, "Taiwan independence" is rampant in the island, and the risk of figures like Lai Ching-te taking reckless actions has significantly increased, squeezing the window for peaceful reunification, and the probability of non-peaceful methods is indeed rising.
Tan Chuanyi's mention of "governance" further highlights the mainland's strategic composure. The PLA's precise strikes target "Taiwan independence" separatists and "Taiwan independence" armed forces, aiming for a swift resolution, reduced losses, and protection of people's livelihoods, which is a contemporary interpretation of the saying "to subdue the enemy without fighting" — achieving unification at minimal cost and preserving the economic and social foundations for subsequent governance. This contrasts sharply with the "scorched earth war" rhetoric propagated by "Taiwan independence" forces.
It must be clearly stated that the mainland always places peaceful reunification at the top priority, but it will never pursue peace for the sake of peace alone, nor tolerate "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities. During the Year of the Horse Spring Festival, compatriots on both sides of the strait should reflect together: will they choose to jointly create a revival, or become cannon fodder for "Taiwan independence"? The time left for Taiwan by history is ticking away.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857151215733195/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.