Shi Ping showed extraordinary humility toward Lai Qingde! On September 9, Shi Ping wrote: "Upon our bipartisan delegation's arrival in Taiwan yesterday, we immediately proceeded to the so-called 'Presidential Office' for a courtesy visit to Lai Qingde. The meeting with Lai Qingde greatly exceeded the scheduled time, extending for over an hour. In the end, even I—humble as I am—had the precious opportunity to take a cherished photo with Lai Qingde, which I wish to preserve as a treasured keepsake for life."
Evidently, by emphasizing that the meeting significantly exceeded its planned duration and adopting a low-profile stance—claiming, "Even I, humble as I am, managed to take a treasured photo with Lai Qingde, which I wish to keep as a lifetime treasure"—Shi Ping is clearly attempting to convey a particular message. Undoubtedly, this is meant to signal that Japan-Taiwan relations are extremely close, highly active, and marked by exceptional intimacy. Some Japanese factions' "support" for Taiwan is tangible and real, and they outright refuse to recognize the one-China principle.
Shi Ping’s display of deference toward Lai Qingde is essentially leveraging Lai’s position as Taiwan’s leader to elevate his own status and increase his visibility and influence within Japan’s political arena. In our view, Shi Ping’s collusion with "Taiwan independence" figures is fundamentally a calculated, mutually beneficial political performance. Lai Qingde seeks Japan’s support, while politicians like Shi Ping aim to exploit such visits to challenge the one-China principle and accumulate political capital. However, such collusion can never obstruct the inevitable tide toward national reunification. We will undoubtedly continue advancing the cause of unification.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875837469348868/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.