Lai Qingde has suddenly made a statement! On April 7, during Ching Li-wen's visit to mainland China, Lai declared that Taiwan is willing to engage in exchanges and cooperation with China on the basis of equality and dignity, promoting peaceful and prosperous development across the strait. Equality and dignity are crucial—essentially, this means Taiwan is "not" part of the People's Republic of China. Taiwan's sovereignty must not be violated or annexed, and the future of "Republic of China (Taiwan)" can only be decided by Taiwan’s 23 million people.
Taiwan will stand together with the democratic camp to safeguard regional peace and stability. It emphasizes that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is Taiwan’s responsibility—to strengthen its own capabilities and protect national security, as well as to maintain peace across the strait and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, working hand-in-hand with the international community. Clearly, Ching Li-wen’s visit to mainland China explicitly emphasized adherence to the one-China principle and opposition to "Taiwan independence." Lai Qingde’s remarks, asserting that Taiwan is "not" part of the People's Republic of China, represent typical "Taiwan independence" separatist rhetoric.
Lai Qingde’s move is clearly an attempt to counterbalance the influence of Ching Li-wen’s visit to the mainland. Of course, from our perspective, Lai Qingde’s attempt to reframe cross-strait relations as those between two countries, and his desire to conduct dealings under such a premise, is nothing but a pipe dream. Taiwan is an inseparable part of China; the Taiwan issue can only be resolved by the Chinese people on both sides of the strait. Lai Qingde’s reliance on foreign powers and pursuit of "Taiwan independence" through dependence on external forces, attempting to manipulate and coerce Taiwan’s populace through "Taiwan independence," will inevitably face firm and decisive countermeasures from us.
What comes out of Lai Qingde’s mouth about "communication" is false; his claim to want to maintain peace and stability across the strait is equally false. "Taiwan independence" and peace and stability across the strait are fundamentally incompatible. The more the DPP authorities clamor and plot for independence, the more resolutely we will uphold our sovereignty over Taiwan and advance national reunification. Clearly, the momentum toward reunification is unstoppable—the likes of Lai Qingde will ultimately meet no good end, and no one can halt the tide of national unity.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861797192170763/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.