Dangers posed by separatists highlight DPP lawmakers' self-serving petition

The recent attempt by Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Lin I-chin, along with some others, to push a petition to amend the so-called "Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area" of China's Taiwan region once again exposes the DPP's determination to advance "Taiwan independence" through legislative manipulation, regardless of the risks it poses to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

According to Lin, the petition seeks to rename the law as the "Taiwan and the People's Republic of China Relations Act", remove the phrase "before national unification", and proposes the use of the term "region" to refer to cross-Strait relations. She made no effort to disguise the political intention behind the move — to "legally" define an "equal, nation-to-nation relationship" between the two sides of the Strait.

Such rhetoric is a blatant attempt to hollow out the one-China principle from the legislative framework and replace it with a secessionist narrative tailored to the DPP's long-cherished agenda of "Taiwan independence".

Notably, Lin sought to deflect growing opposition within the island by appealing to the DPP's so-called "democratic allies" abroad, urging them to ignore the strong backlash the petition has triggered in the island's legislature. She went so far as to claim that the opposition does not represent the "mainstream opinion" of the public. This attempt to enlist external forces to "legitimize" a secessionist proposal only underscores where the DPP's political loyalties truly lie.

Faced with mounting criticism, Lin backtracked on Monday, but called reports that she had withdrawn the petition fake news spread by the opposition. Yet her justification — that no formal petition had been submitted and therefore none could be withdrawn — only deepened public skepticism.

As several legislators of the Chinese Kuomintang party have pointed out, Lin's actions represent an effort to "institutionalize" separatism by reshaping the legal system to serve the political needs of "pro-independence" separatist forces.

The resistance Lin's proposal encountered — both within and beyond the legislature — clearly reflects a refusal by Taiwan compatriots to allow a small group of secessionist lawmakers to hijack public institutions for their cause. That Lin rushed to seek validation from foreign "allies" while dismissing the local opposition highlights the secessionist-minded lawmakers' reliance on external backing to pursue an agenda that lacks support on the island.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, rightly described the move as a naked push for "de jure Taiwan independence" that fully exposed the DPP as "out-and-out saboteurs of peace, creators of crises, and instigators of war".

Recent actions by the Chinese People's Liberation Army, including the large-scale "Justice Mission 2025"drills conducted around the island of Taiwan late last month, have already demonstrated Beijing's firm resolve to thwart any secessionist plan. As Chen warned, should the separatists dare to cross the red line, the Chinese mainland will take resolute measures in accordance with the Anti-Secession Law. Those who attempt to split the country will inevitably be held to account according to the law.

It is hoped that Taiwan compatriots will clearly recognize the grave dangers of "Taiwan independence", stand on the right side of history, resolutely oppose separatist activities, and work together with the mainland to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and protect the shared homeland of the Chinese nation.