Cross-strait relations are tangled with history and ideologies. Despite 70 years of confrontation, Taiwan has become a mature democratic country, while China has remained a one-party authoritarian state. Faced with the new international situation that is the dispute between China and the US, Taiwanese need to develop a new way of thinking regarding some aspects of cross-strait ties.
Veterans Affairs Council Minister Feng Shih-kuan (馮世寬) at a news conference called on veterans’ groups not to join China’s celebrations for the Whampoa Military Academy’s 99th anniversary in June to avoid falling into Beijing’s “united front” traps. Feng also expressed his hope that, at a difficult time like this, veterans’ groups would support the academy’s grand centennial celebrations in Taiwan next year.
Veterans Affairs Council Deputy Minister Lee Wen-chung (李文忠) said that since 1950 when the academy relocated to Taiwan, its legitimacy has been bound to its existence here. Veterans’ groups should be cautious about traveling to China as they might be duped by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he said.
On a practical level, Taiwan has every right to claim Whampoa after reopening the academy more than 70 years ago. Regardless of the number of times political power has transferred in Taiwan or the transformation from an authoritarian system to a democratic one, the Republic of China (ROC) military defends Taiwan proper, and Penghu, Kinmem and Lienchiang counties, not China.
Considering the national identity of the ROC, it would be inappropriate for groups to join the CCP’s Whampoa celebrations.
Since 2017, the CCP’s military aircraft have repeatedly intruded into the air defense identification zone southwest of Taiwan, while its warplanes and warships have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s air force and naval personnel take turns on alert missions.
The situation has added a lot of pressure on military personnel. Despite the hardships, the ROC military has always adhered to its principles, continuing to carry out missions and issuing radio alerts to drive Chinese warplanes and ships away.
Retired officers who insist on going to China for the Whampoa event would be an embarrassment for the nation’s active military personnel.
The CCP’s “united front” technique is based on the principle of creating disunity among its enemies, with “enemies” categorized as primary or secondary.
From the CCP’s perspective, Taiwan’s active and retired military personnel — whether they are members of the pan-blue or pan-green political camps — are targets of its “united front” work. This has been the CCP’s tactic for a long time.
The government’s call for retired military personnel not to go to China for the anniversary is justified.
Feng’s heartfelt remarks and Lee’s appeal should be taken seriously. Veteran officers, regardless of party affiliation or stance on the cross-strait issue, should stay in Taiwan for next year’s Whampoa celebrations. They should not allow China to disunite Taiwan through its “united front” work.
Ray Song is a doctoral student in Tamkang University’s Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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