Lai's political gamble backfires as DPP's 'recall campaign' crumbles: China Daily editorial

In a clear expression of public disapproval, all 24 opposition Kuomintang legislators targeted by a Democratic Progressive Party's "recall campaign" retained their seats on Saturday, and the DPP's attempt to remove a non-DPP mayor also failed.

The failure of the campaign underscores the growing dissatisfaction with the DPP's confrontational tactics and reaffirms that its "Taiwan independence" agenda is both unpopular and unsustainable.

The sweeping failure of the DPP's "mass recall campaign" dealt a heavy blow to the island's regional leader Lai Ching-te and exposed how the DPP's political manipulation — driven by separatist ambitions and desire for a political monopoly — runs counter to the will of the people.

For Lai and the DPP, such a result was a clear defeat, pointing to their miscalculation and misperception of public sentiment on the island.

It was widely believed that although the "recall campaign" appeared to be initiated by "civil groups", it was in fact orchestrated by the DPP authorities led by Lai. It was an attempt to reverse their disadvantage in the "legislature" through "recalls" and "by-elections", as the DPP, currently holding 51 seats in the island's 113-seat "legislature", sits as a minority party.

As Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, rightfully pointed out on Sunday, the failure of the "recall vote" targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan's local legislature shows that the DPP's political manipulation runs counter to the public will.

The DPP, driven by its pursuit of "Taiwan independence" and a one-party monopoly, has repeatedly stirred up political strife at the expense of the well-being of the island's residents. It has resorted to every means at its disposal to suppress political dissent and deepen social division, fully revealing the vanity and hypocrisy of its smears directed at the Chinese mainland.

If they face the outcome of the "mass recall vote" squarely, Lai and the DPP will realize it represents an unmistakable rejection of the DPP's agenda to seek "Taiwan independence". The failure on Saturday might spur the DPP authorities to go to extremes to manipulate the next "recall vote" if it is carried out as planned. But they should voluntarily discard the second round of the "recall campaign" scheduled for next month as a repeat of the first round results will only further tarnish their credibility.

Since taking office, Lai and the DPP have tried by hook or by crook to push their "Taiwan independence" agenda, ganging up with foreign forces to stir up tensions across the Taiwan Strait and suppressing dissenting voices through judicial and other means.

From his inaugural speech pushing his false "two-state theory" to his March 13 address labeling the mainland as an "external hostile force", Lai has peddled "pro-independence" fallacies with all his might. Last month, as soon as the date for the first round of "mass recall campaign" was set, he began his series of "10 lectures on unity", which contained nothing but lies intended to prop up the delusion of "Taiwan independence".

Last week, the DPP authorities sent Lin Chia-lung, head of their "foreign affairs department", to visit Japan in yet another attempt to carry out blatant provocative activities, which immediately drew strong opposition and condemnation from the mainland.

Lai and his DPP authorities should know "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, and their futile pursuit of it will only lead them along a road of no return.

Any attempt to split the island from the motherland will be resolutely opposed, and will inevitably be crushed by the wheels of history moving forward.