After China’s pro-U.S. and anti-China Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-der was elected in Taiwan’s presidential election, President Xi Jinping (photo) has taken measures to isolate Taiwan internationally along with internal efforts, including emphasizing Taiwan’s unification.
In an article titled “Important Ideas on the Complete, Accurate, and Comprehensive Implementation of the New Era Party’s Unification Front Work” published on the 16th in the Chinese Communist Party’s Theory magazine Chux (求是), President Xi said, “Do well to capture the hearts of Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas. Develop and strengthen Taiwan’s patriotic unification forces, oppose Taiwan’s independence and separatist activities, and promote complete unification with the motherland.” It is the first time that President Xi has taken a position on Taiwan since the Taiwan presidential election held on the 13th.
Xi’s mention of “opposing Taiwan independence” made clear his opposition to Lai. “Taiwan now is Taiwan of the world,” Lai said in a meeting with the U.S. delegation the day before.
In addition, China is expected to actively target pro-China Kuomintang and others who have become one party at a time when the Democratic Progressive Party won the general election but failed to secure a majority in the parliament.
In the election to select 113 legislators, which is equivalent to lawmakers in the Korean National Assembly, the Democratic Progressive Party only had 51 seats, while the Nationalist Party became the top party with 52 seats. Two independents are also said to be close to the Kuomintang. On top of that, as the moderate People’s Party has eight seats on the casting vote, there is a possibility that the Chinese side will also attack the members of the People’s Party.
Jeong Yong-Nyan (鄭永年), a professor at the Shenzhen campus of Hong Kong Chinese University and a Chinese government adviser, also stressed on WeChat (Chinese version X) that for peaceful reunification with Taiwan, it must actively win the hearts of young people.
“Taiwan’s young people are a key force in determining Taiwan’s future political direction,” he said, stressing that Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongsu and Douyin should be opened to Taiwanese young people to have a favorable impression of China.
The Ministry of National Security, a Chinese counterintelligence agency, urged Taiwan’s intelligence agencies not to risk their lives. “We would like to advise Taiwan’s intelligence sector,” the Ministry of National Security said. “The DPK authorities are not taking care of the interests and well-being of our compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait (兩岸, China and Taiwan) solely for their own party’s personal interests.” “There is no need to discuss the fate of the frontline intelligence agent,” he warned. After the Chinese authorities defined Taiwan’s independence line as the “path of death” and warned of military and economic pressure, they have even started a public psychological war targeting Taiwanese intelligence agents.
China is also continuing its attempts to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a briefing the previous day that they supported the principle of “One China” after listing the names of countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, as well as international organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Arab League.
In addition, Nauru, a Pacific island nation, declared the restoration of diplomatic ties with Taiwan and China on the previous day. As if waiting, the Chinese foreign ministry said, “China highly appreciates and welcomes the decision made by the Nauru government.” The number of Taiwan diplomatic relations will be reduced to 12 countries, including Guatemala and Paraguay.
Taiwanese authorities dispatched Foreign Minister Wu Zhao Xie (吳釗燮) to the inauguration ceremony of Guatemala’s president on the 13th, the day of the presidential election. It is interpreted as a measure to prevent Guatemala, which has become the most important country among the 12 Taiwan diplomatic countries, from severing ties with Taiwan and establishing diplomatic ties with China. The new Guatemalan president, Bernardo Arevalo, has vowed to pursue close relations with China during the election process, and Taiwan is said to have made all-out efforts to persuade President Arevalo.
Laura Rosenberg, president of the American Association of Taiwan (AIT), which is equivalent to the U.S. Embassy in Taiwan, said, “The U.S. will continue to maintain strong informal relations with Taiwan, a key point for democracy and economy. We will continue to deepen and expand cooperation on common values and interests and support Taiwan’s participation in international affairs.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping published an article today (16th) in the Chinese Communist Party Theory magazine that focused on the independence and pro-U.S. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Qingder, who was elected in Taiwan’s presidential election.
President Xi has repeatedly mentioned the need for unification with Taiwan, saying, “We must oppose Taiwan’s independent separatist activities,” targeting Lai, adding, “Facilitate complete reunification with our motherland.”
In particular, the Chinese authorities are likely to actively target legislators of the pro-China Kuomintang in the future by emphasizing strengthening patriotic unification forces in Taiwan and winning the hearts of Taiwanese people.
This is the first time Xi has expressed his position on Taiwan since the Taiwan presidential election on the 13th
President Xi also ordered, “Do a good job of capturing Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and overseas.”
President Xi earlier emphasized in his New Year’s address that “unification of the motherland is a historical necessity,” but his remarks on “unification” drew more attention after Lai Ching-der, who explicitly hindered China’s election in Taiwan’s presidential election, became president.
In particular, the mention of “oppose Taiwan independence” seems to have clarified his opposition to pro-U.S. and independence-oriented Lai.
Foreign media also put an expert analysis that the Chinese authorities are much less likely to talk to the next Democratic Progressive Party government led by President-elect Lai Ching-de than during the current President Tsai Ing-wen’s tenure.
On the 15th, President-elect Lai met with the U.S. delegation dispatched by U.S. President Joe Biden to declare a clear opposition to China’s “unification of the motherland” policy and asked the U.S. to continue supporting the U.S. to begin his “pro-U.S. anti-China” move in earnest.
SOPHIA KIM
ASIA JOURNAL
