Lai's actions escalate cross-Strait tensions

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Lai Ching-te's actions since taking office as Taiwan's leader a year ago have escalated tensions and undermined peace across the Taiwan Strait, with observers urging him and the Democratic Progressive Party to drop the confrontational stance toward the Chinese mainland.

Lai, 65, won the island's leadership election in January last year, succeeding Tsai Ing-wen, who had been in power for the eight years prior. Lai has publicly branded himself multiple times as a "pragmatic worker for 'Taiwan independence'".

The DPP leader's separatist nature was further revealed in his rhetoric around cross-Strait relations in his "inaugural speech" given on May 20 last year, claiming the two sides across the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other.

Ni Yongjie, director of the Shanghai Institute of Taiwan Studies, said Lai has continued his predecessor Tsai's assertion of "non-subordination" regarding cross-Strait relations, but Lai highlights that such a mutual "non-subordinate" relationship would be between "two countries" and between "democratic and authoritarian" political systems.

Lai's separatist rhetoric has further evolved by repeating the "two-state" fallacy and putting forward the "motherland fallacy" in a speech leading up to the island's "Double Tenth" day on Oct 10. He claimed that in terms of age, it is impossible for the People's Republic of China to be the motherland of the people of the "Republic of China".

"His rhetoric is more deceptive and misleading," Ni said. On top of the subversive "Taiwan independence" discourse, Lai refers to Taiwan and the "ROC" interchangeably, mixing up the message and muddying the waters by blanketing his successionist views under a perceived legitimacy of the "ROC".

On March 13, Lai referred to the Chinese mainland as "foreign hostile forces" in a speech after a so-called national security meeting outlining 17"strategies" to counter "threats" from the mainland.

These "strategies" aim to limit cross-Strait exchanges and include restoring the military trial system to handle cases involving "espionage", enhancing scrutiny of Taiwan residents applying for identification documents on the mainland, and raising public awareness about "risks" associated with mainland travel.

The DPP authorities led by Lai have maintained the ban on group travel to the mainland, restricted direct flights and prohibited collaborations between Taiwan-based institutions and 10 mainland universities.

Lai has proposed policies to investigate Taiwan residents holding mainland identity documents, expanding the scope of scrutiny over Taiwan artists' remarks and behaviors, and establishing a review system targeting cross-Strait exchanges in religion, culture and education.

In Taiwan, groups and individuals who support reunification and cross-Strait exchanges are facing harassment and business people are discouraged from investing on the mainland, while pro-DPP media have launched smear campaigns vilifying cross-Strait cooperation.

Earlier this month, the DPP authorities threatened to investigate some 20 entertainers from the island, including cellist and actress Ouyang Nana, over social media posts advocating reunification and opposing "Taiwan independence".

To sever the historical and cultural ties between the island and the mainland, explicit recognition of the Han people — the majority ethnic group in both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland — was removed from the island's official demographic profile in May.

Wang Sheng, honorary director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University, said that Lai has escalated the political confrontation between the two sides of the Strait, even to a place of ethnic antagonism.

"Moreover, the entire society in Taiwan is moving toward a state where there is no freedom without advocating for separation," he said, adding that signs are emerging within Taiwan that could jeopardize the prospects of peaceful reunification across the Strait.

Yang Yizhou, vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, said to promote his "two-state" fallacy, Lai is attempting to comprehensively confront the mainland and achieve a complete decoupling.

He is also selling out Taiwan's industry in exchange for "protection" from the United States, Yang said, adding that Lai's moves actually go against the mainstream public opinion on the island.

Recent polls conducted in Taiwan have revealed a stark public dissatisfaction with Lai and the ruling DPP. A TVBS poll indicated that Lai's dissatisfaction rating has reached 55 percent, marking a new high since he assumed office.

Another survey published by United Daily News showed that 53 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with Lai's governance performance, the highest for an island leader nearing their first anniversary in recent years.

Fifty-four percent of respondents are dissatisfied with Lai's handling of cross-Strait relations, while 52 percent believe that Taiwan's society has become more divided during his one-year tenure in office, according to the United Daily News survey.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai's actions in the past year fully proved he is a "saboteur of peace" and a "crisis maker" across the Strait.

Chen called Lai's proposal of cross-Strait dialogue "on equal terms" a hypocritical gesture attempting to revive dialogue based on his "two states" framework, when commenting on Lai's remarks on cross-Strait relations in his address marking his first year in office on May 20 and in recent interviews.

"Only by recognizing the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China will cross-Strait dialogue and consultation have a basis to resume," Chen said.

Lai's recent remarks repeated his separatist stance and underlined his desire to achieve his aims by force and with the support of external actors, he added.

"His two-faced tactics are doomed to failure," Chen said, adding that regardless of the rhetoric, Taiwan's status of being part of China and the trend toward reunification remain unchanged.

Wang Dan-ping, a professor at Taiwan's Fu Jen Catholic University, said despite the current cross-Strait situation being serious, reunification is the general trend and will happen in a matter of time.

If the DPP administration persists in this way, it will lead Taiwan to a dead end. Conversely, if Taiwan can integrate into the mainland's modernization, Taiwan will embark on a path of prosperity, he said.

Chao Chien-min, a professor at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, called on Lai's administration to reconsider the "anti-mainland" policy as it has already caused significant harm to Taiwan and cross-Strait relations.

He suggested Taiwan seize mainland policies that encourage exchanges with Taiwan in terms of tourism and student exchanges, which can ensure peace and stability, avoiding war.

zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn