By Wang Ping
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities recently released a “defense report”, vigorously highlighting the “military threat from the Chinese mainland”. Relying on hypothesis, the DPP authorities fabricate a horrific atmosphere of “everyone going to war” in Taiwan.
Both sides of the Taiwan Strait clearly have the option of peaceful coexistence and a readily available path to mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Why do the DPP authorities insist on choosing confrontation and using imagined scenes of devastating war to intimidate the people of Taiwan? The answer lies in the fact that a peaceful and stable situation is incompatible with their stubborn pursuit of “Taiwan independence”. The DPP authorities are trying to find excuses for relying on external forces to seek “Taiwan independence” and purchasing weapons from the US, and to cast the blame for destabilizing the Taiwan Strait on the mainland.
During the eight years from 2008 to 2016, when both sides of the strait worked together for peaceful development, there was a period of calm. However, when the DPP came into power and refused to acknowledge the one-China principle, the situation quickly deteriorated, and cross-strait relations froze. Over the following seven-plus years, the DPP authorities have engaged in numerous provocations to push for “independence.” It is clear who has disrupted cross-strait relations, causing the once peaceful Taiwan Strait to become tumultuous and pushing Taiwan into a precarious situation. The answer is self-evident.
DPP key figures occasionally utter some beautiful words like “peace is the only option for both sides of the Strait”, “both sides should sit down and talk,” or “we welcome cross-strait exchanges”. However, their words are often at odds with their actions, revealing their true intentions. For examples, changing the English name of the “Double Tenth” day to “TAIWAN NATIONAL DAY,” implying Taiwan as a nation; proposing the so-called “four major requests for participation in the UN” and advocating Taiwan’s accession to the UN; stating that cross-strait exchanges in the fields of religion and academia are “comparatively dangerous” and urging individuals on the island not to visit the mainland unless necessary. Through all these actions, they either promote a “one country on each side” narrative or hinder cross-strait exchanges.
When it comes to pursuing “independence” through military means, the DPP authorities have spared no effort. They expressed gratitude as the US recently approved a US$500 million arms sale and provided Taiwan with a US$80 million military financing loan for the first time. Additionally, the DPP authorities’ defense budget for the fiscal year 2024 reached a historic high of NT$606.8 billion, nearly doubling from eight years ago. From 2020 to 2022, Taiwan has been busy purchasing the US arms. The more weapons are purchased, the higher the debt burden becomes. What has this brought in return? As some insightful individuals on the island have pointed out, buying more weapons doesn’t guarantee security. To truly ensure Taiwan’s security, it is necessary to seek “avoiding conflict” and pursue peaceful cross-strait relations. The DPP’s focus on pursuing “independence” through military means and “relying on external support for independence” only serves to provoke conflict and war, rather than seeking peaceful solutions.
Recent surveys on cross-strait relations in Taiwan have shown an increase in public concerns over “Taiwan independence” and the continuation of the DPP in power. This reflects a growing realization among the Taiwanese population that pursuing “Taiwan independence” could lead to war. The DPP authorities and “Taiwan independence” secessionists have not only become “troublemakers” threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait region but also the biggest disruptors of peaceful and secure lives for the people of Taiwan.
The common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait is for peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation. The DPP authorities are going against the tide by pushing cross-strait relations into a dangerous territory. On one hand, they are “provoking conflict” and leading Taiwan toward a perilous situation, and on the other hand, they are blaming the “mainland threat,” attempting to portray themselves, the troublemakers, as innocents. Their attempts to deceive the world with such lousy tricks are bound to fail.
Editor’s note: Originally published on haiwainet.cn, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
