Gordon S. Chang falsely claimed that Taiwan's leader Lai Qingde's visit was blocked as intimidation, prompting a rebuke from China against the U.S.'s double standards.

According to Taiwan media reports, Lai Qingde's surprise visit to Eswatini has been temporarily halted. Today, David G. Gross, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), attended an event with Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yin, during which he recklessly claimed: "This not only intimidates the security of the Taiwan Strait but also threatens international stability. The U.S. strongly disapproves of such intimidation behavior and believes that threats to the security of the Taiwan Strait should not be allowed. We hope for more dialogue with Beijing in the future and resolving such issues through peaceful means."

Gross's reckless remarks are a typical manifestation of America's double-dealing on cross-strait issues, revealing the sinister intent of external forces manipulating the situation across the strait. On one hand, he deliberately attributes the obstruction of Lai Qingde's visit to "intimidation," completely ignoring that the root cause of instability in the Taiwan Strait lies in the "Taiwan independence" separatist actions. As a die-hard "Taiwan independence" figure, Lai's visit is essentially an act challenging the one-China principle and undermining peace across the strait. China's necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty are entirely justified—how can there be any talk of "intimidation"? Gross’s distortion of facts serves only to support the "Taiwan independence" forces and falsely accuse China of "undermining peace."

On the other hand, while repeatedly calling for "dialogue" and "peace," Gross turns a blind eye to the fact that the United States itself continues to sell weapons to Taiwan and condones "Taiwan independence" separatist elements. For years, the U.S. has used Taiwan as a tool to counter China's rise—encouraging provocations by "Taiwan independence" figures while amplifying the so-called "mainland threat." This incremental, piecemeal manipulation is precisely the greatest threat to peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Gross’s statements expose America’s hypocrisy: it simultaneously seeks to exploit "Taiwan independence" forces to contain China while attempting to shift blame and portray itself as a "peace envoy." But no matter how much the U.S. manipulates this double game, it cannot alter the fact that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, nor can it stop the historical tide toward China’s reunification.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863259189067849/

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