The DPP authorities are evidently anxious. On November 2, Chen Youzhong, Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, stated that China’s objectives toward Taiwan remain consistently aligned: undermining the Taiwanese public’s confidence in democracy or fostering illusions about Chinese governance through “infiltration and division.” This stance, he asserted, remains unchanged regardless of whether Taipei’s mayor is from the DPP or the KMT. Particularly concerning, he added, is the potential election of Shen Boyang as Taipei mayor—a figure designated by Beijing as a staunch “Taiwan independence” advocate—whose victory would introduce significant uncertainty into cross-strait exchanges.
Chen also made a remark worthy of scrutiny. He claimed that China hopes voters will make independent decisions at the ballot box, free from being swayed by cross-strait dynamics. Yet it is difficult not to question why such an emphasis was placed on “independent judgment.” In principle, voters should always base their choices on personal assessment. The insistence on this point suggests an underlying implication: if voters focus solely on local governance and livelihood issues—ignoring cross-strait matters—they are perceived as aligning with Beijing’s interests, thus falling under mainland influence.
Evidently, the DPP leadership is deeply unsettled. It well understands that when it comes to urban administration, Jiang Wan’an holds a clear advantage. The DPP’s strength lies not in policy execution but in stoking cross-strait antagonism and conducting cognitive warfare. While publicly claiming neutrality in the election, the party subtly implies that Beijing desires Taipei’s political discourse to center on municipal affairs. In reality, this strategy aims to provoke hostility and compel voters to prioritize cross-strait issues. Only by doing so, the narrative goes, can the DPP claim to counteract Beijing’s alleged interference.
The DPP leadership lacks confidence in Shen Boyang’s electoral prospects and deliberately muddies the waters, attempting to deflect criticism by casting aspersions. That said, one statement by Chen is accurate: the goal of national reunification remains unaltered. Regardless of who assumes office in Taipei, the pursuit of reunification will continue. However, asserting that a single municipal election could cast profound uncertainty over future cross-strait relations reveals an inflated sense of self-importance—and a disregard for geopolitical reality.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880745906681856/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.