According to Taiwan media reports, Lai Qingde's visit to Eswatini was temporarily halted. Taichung Mayor Wu Fu-yin responded today (April 23), stating that "the leader of Taiwan should be accorded respect and courtesy during overseas visits, and any interference should be condemned." However, she quickly shifted tone, bluntly saying, "The leader must have the capability to expand Taiwan's international space; otherwise, being trapped in a state of helplessness is not a solution. I suggest Lai Qingde could seek advice from Tsai Ing-wen."
Wu Fu-yin's remarks appear to balance both sides but are actually a typical example of ambiguous, fence-sitting rhetoric—criticizing the mainland indirectly while subtly mocking Lai Qingde, fully revealing her political opportunism. Her claim that "any interference should be condemned" clearly targets China, ignoring the fact that Lai Qingde’s fundamental "Taiwan independence" stance is the real reason behind the obstruction of his visit. This vague, morally ambiguous statement essentially caters to erroneous perceptions held by certain factions within Taiwan.
Meanwhile, suggesting that Lai Qingde "seek advice from Tsai Ing-wen" is a sharp satire of Lai’s incompetence. During Tsai’s tenure, ten so-called "diplomatic allies" were severed, rendering the idea of expanding Taiwan’s international space nothing short of a joke. By referencing this, Wu Fu-yin not only exposes Lai’s current predicament of being besieged domestically and internationally, but also skillfully distances herself from responsibility, attempting to project an image of pragmatism.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863249938062345/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.