Beijing would use “gray zone” tactics to push president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to adopt a cross-strait policy in line with its “one China” principle, a Taiwanese academic said in Taipei yesterday.
To ensure that Lai stays within a “one China” framework in his inauguration speech on May 20, as well as with his choices in appointing officials, Beijing would use military pressure through “gray zone” tactics and push the US to use its influence to sway decisions in Taipei, National Taiwan University professor of political science Tso Chen-dong (左正東) told a forum.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has stayed within the framework for most of her eight years in office, Tso said, citing sources that described Tsai’s inauguration speech in 2016 as her version of the “one China” policy.
Photo: CNA
Only in her Double Ten National Day address in 2021 did she show signs of “breaking out” of the framework by noting that “the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China should not be subordinate to each other,” he said.
Lai put it more bluntly during his campaign last year when he stated that accepting the so-called “1992 consensus” would be equivalent to abandoning the sovereignty of Taiwan, he said.
The “1992 consensus” refers to a tacit understanding between the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledge that there is “one China,” with each side having its own interpretation of what “China” means.
Lai has repeatedly made clear his opposition to “one China,” Tso said, adding that how he is to put the words into policy is “a core question” for Taiwan-US-China ties.
Beijing is intensifying its “gray zone” tactics against Taiwan to force it to negotiate and compel Lai to adopt a cross-strait policy that is “acceptable or tolerable” for China, Tso said.
For example, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office last month stated that Beijing is willing to negotiate with Taipei as long as the Democratic Progressive Party accepts the “1992 consensus” after two Chinese died fleeing a Coast Guard Administration vessel in restricted waters near Kinmen County, he said.
China and the US restored high-level communications when Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) met with US President Joe Biden in November last year, and Beijing is hoping to use the US to restrain Lai, Tso said.
China is flexing its military muscles while avoiding giving the US reasons to take military counteractions, as well as advocating for “peaceful” unification with Taiwan, he said.
Leading up to the US presidential election in November, in which former US president Donald Trump and Biden are the presumed main candidates, Taiwan should not “bet on one side,” but be prepared to cooperate with whoever wins, Tamkang University Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies director Li Da-jung (李大中) said.
If Biden is re-elected, the US’ China policy is likely to be consistent; if Trump wins, the policy would be more unpredictable, Li said.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS