Lai Ching-te's reckless rhetoric on 'Taiwan independence'

Editor's note: Anthony Moretti, a special commentator for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University in the U.S. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Lai Ching-te, leader of China's Taiwan region, can be counted upon to regularly stir up tension. He especially does that whenever he advances the idea of "Taiwan independence" from the People's Republic of China. Aided by some groups that insist Taiwan can be a country, Lai sits atop what is little more than a house of cards; whenever the inevitable strong wind blows through, the house and the deceitful rhetoric that supports it will come crashing down.

Lai was at it again on March 13, leaving little doubt that he has no respect for China's leadership. He identified China as a "foreign hostile force" and claimed without any evidence that Beijing was using various groups, including organized crime groups, media personalities, and current and former military and police officers, to undermine the stability of the island. His empty rhetoric also included the argument that Taiwan should re-open a military court system to handle cases relating to "active-duty" military personnel's suspected involvement in such "military crimes as sedition, aiding the enemy, leaking confidential information, dereliction of duty, or disobedience."

The truth is that no such courts should re-established as they risk falsely charging, and perhaps convicting, men and women for being nothing more than Chinese patriots, people who anticipate the reunification of the island and the mainland. But no doubt it would be convenient for Lai and his minions to use specious arguments of sedition to lock up such people in the coming days.

Taiwan ought to discontinue pandering to certain governments that speak openly about supporting the island's "freedom" but cannot be counted upon to come to its aid. Ukraine is an example. It received plenty of economic and military aid from the U.S. in the past but under the new Donald Trump administration, military assistance to Ukraine has been suspended. Nor is the U.S. ready to send American soldiers to Ukraine. Some other Western countries are also not ready to send their troops to Ukraine.

If Ukraine, geographically much closer to Western Europe than Taiwan, is not the place where Western military forces will go, then how does Lai or any of his allies believe that such forces would show up on the Taiwan island? The literal costs would be higher, and the risk of a quickly expanding war would be real. Lai would be foolish if he thinks that a group of nations, led by the U.S., would militarily support his party in any crisis with China.

Lai makes a terrible mistake whenever he escalates cross-straits confrontation, hinders people-to-people and other exchanges that would foster goodwill between the island and the mainland, and seeks to strain, or break, the ties between Taiwan and the mainland. He might think he is advancing his bona fides at home and abroad, but at minimum he is risking stirring up public protests from residents of Taiwan who support the reunification of the island with the Chinese mainland.

However much Lai might not want to admit it, reunification is inevitable and no domestic or international actors ought to undertake any effort to prevent what would be. China's foreign ministry spokesperson made it clear again just a few days ago that "peaceful reunification" is the Chinese mainland's goal, but it will "take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolutely oppose Taiwan independence and external interference." China wants reunification to be peaceful, but it will fight for it, if required.

It is one thing when U.S. politicians pretend they are showing strength when they visit the Taiwan region, despite knowing that such trips antagonize the Chinese mainland. Such political figures are interested in pandering to the television cameras and adding a few more dollars to their campaign chests. A few smiles and handshakes later, they leave with nothing of substance having been accomplished.

But Lai's case is different. When he alleges that China wants to "divide, destroy and subvert us from within," he is attacking the motherland.

Reckless rhetoric serves no purpose.  

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