Lai's 'city upon a hill' dream masks a separatist agenda

In his so-called Double-Ten speech on Oct 10, Lai Ching-te, leader of the Taiwan region, portrayed himself as a guardian of peace, a defender of democracy and a promoter of prosperity and spoke at length about building a "city upon a hill".

However, the speech was rife with separatist claims and advocacy of "Taiwan independence".

Lai continues to resist reunification and distort historical facts relating to World War II in his attempt to challenge the undeniable truth that Taiwan is a part of China.

No matter how attractively Lai packages his "Taiwan independence" agenda, he cannot mask its true intent to separate Taiwan from China. And no matter how much he tries to exaggerate the role of external forces, he cannot alter the fundamental reality that Taiwan is a part of China. His so-called "city upon a hill" cannot sustain the separatist illusion.

First, Lai's pursuit of separatism under the banner of democracy can't change historical and legal facts. Marking the 30th anniversary of the island's leadership election system, he claimed that Taiwan's future should be decided by the "Taiwan people" as defined by the Democratic Progressive Party. He also repeatedly referred to Taiwan as a "country", attempting to use the island's electoral system as a political basis for his separatist claims.

However, elections and political systems cannot be used to alter sovereignty or deny the shared rights and responsibilities of all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, regarding the future of the country. Such attempts are fundamentally flawed and practically harmful.

More troubling is Lai's attempt to invoke WWII history and his claim that history should not be "distorted". He linked the issue to the so-called "survival rights" of the "people" on the island as defined by the DPP authorities. It was a clear attempt to reinterpret history and justify separatist arguments.

History cannot be rewritten, legal principles cannot be denied, and the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China cannot be changed.

By confusing Taiwan's return to China after World War II with the political confrontation that arose after 1949, Lai is attempting to distort historical facts and undermine national unity. Such political manipulation cannot change the nature of the Taiwan question or challenge the one-China principle.

Second, the military expansion will only heighten tensions across the Taiwan Strait. Lai claims that increasing defense spending is aimed at "deterring war" and creating conditions for dialogue based on so-called "equality" and "dignity".

However, behind these claims lies a clear push to expand military preparations and pursue "Taiwan independence" through military means.

In his speech, Lai proposed transforming Taiwan's strengths in semiconductors, information and communications technology, and precision manufacturing into defense capabilities, while incorporating military industries, security technologies and artificial intelligence into strategic industries.

The intention is clearly to deepen the integration of technology industries with military development and bring more economic resources into a system designed for confrontation.

Turning technological strengths, which should be used to promote economic growth and improve people's livelihoods, into tools for political and military competition only increases risks for Taiwan's industries.

This approach could also involve more enterprises in military cooperation with external forces, disrupting normal cross-Strait industrial and supply chain cooperation.

Taiwan's semiconductor and technology industries, developed over decades, should not become political bargaining chips for separatist purposes. Linking these industries with a "Taiwan independence" agenda will neither provide genuine security nor alter the cross-Strait balance. Instead, it will only increase tensions and impose greater economic and security costs on businesses and residents on the island.

Third, Lai's reliance on external forces cannot change the reality of the one-China framework.

In his speech, Lai claimed that he welcomed dialogue between the Chinese mainland and the United States to manage competition, while at the same time calling for closer cooperation among so-called democratic partners in the "Indo-Pacific" region.

These remarks reveal an attempt to leverage external forces to advance separatist goals.

Turning to outside powers and provoking confrontation cannot change the historical reality that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. Today, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 has made it clear that there is only one China in the world, the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Seeking "Taiwan independence" with support from external forces and turning the island into a tool in geopolitical competition will only place the security and well-being of Taiwan compatriots at greater risk.

"Taiwan independence" pursued through external support has no future, and attempts to achieve it through military means are doomed to fail.

No force can stop the historical trend toward national reunification.

Persisting on this path will only put Taiwan compatriots at risk and will ultimately be rejected by history.

The author is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Beijing Union University.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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