As relations between Taiwan and China continue to deteriorate, there is no immediate solution to the cross-strait stalemate in sight, National Policy Foundation member Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) said yesterday.
Lin, a former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker who had chaired the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, made the remarks at a forum in Taipei titled “The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Military Threat to Taiwan” organized by the KMT-affiliated think tank.
While the foundation does not believe that a war between Taiwan and China is looming or inevitable, “it is true that cross-strait relations are very bad and continue to deteriorate,” he said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Compared with other places that have long been viewed as a hot spot for an outbreak of war in Asia, such as the border between India and China, or the Diaoyutais (釣魚台), he believes that “the Taiwan Strait is probably a truly more dangerous place,” he said.
Beijing considers the cross-strait issue “a civil war that did not end,” he said.
“Right now, we do not see a solution to the deadlock between the two sides of the Strait,” he said.
“The two sides are deadlocked over the ‘1992 consensus,’” with neither side giving in, he said.
“The CCP believes that ‘if I no longer use the 1992 consensus as a precondition for cross-strait reconciliation, then it means that I surrender to Taiwanese independence,’” Lin said.
For President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), recognizing the “1992 consensus” would be equivalent to admitting that Taiwan and China “will eventually be unified,” he added.
The so-called “1992 consensus,” a term former Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) chairman Su Chi (蘇起) in 2006 admitted making up in 2000, refers to a tacit understanding between the KMT and the CCP that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
“Cross-strait relations are now entering a winter and freezing over,” Lin said.
Although new MAC Minister Chiu Tai-san (邱太三), who was sworn in on Tuesday, has said he is to promote a reconciliation and “blossoming” of cross-strait relations, “one swallow does not make a summer,” Lin said.
It will be a long time before cross-strait relations “blossom,” he said.
Former minister of national defense Andrew Yang (楊念祖) told the forum that in his 30-plus years of studying the Chinese People Liberation’s Army, he has never felt as much attention being paid by the international community to the Chinese military’s actions near the Taiwan Strait as there is today.
National security officials should be mindful that as military tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait, international expectations and pressure on Taiwan would also increase, he said.
In related news, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer on Wednesday transited through the Taiwan Strait in a routine operation, the second by a US battleship since US President Joe Biden assumed office on Jan. 20.
“An American battleship sailed from north to south through the Taiwan Strait and continued moving south,” the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement, without naming the ship, although a press release from the US 7th Fleet said it was the USS Curtis Wilbur.
“The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Feb. 24 (local time) in accordance with international law,” the US 7th Fleet statement said.
“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows,” it said.
On Feb. 4, the USS John S. McCain, also an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the first such operation since Biden took office.
Additional reporting by CNA
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RSS