Hypocrisy marks Lai's attempt to divide the country

In his so-called Double-Ten speech on Oct 10, Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te repeatedly asserted his commitment to "defending the status quo" across the Taiwan Strait.

However, he distorted facts by portraying the Chinese mainland's legitimate efforts to safeguard national sovereignty as attempts to change the status quo. Though he tried to cast himself as a "guardian" of peace in the Taiwan Strait, the reality is quite different.

Since he assumed office in 2024, Lai has stubbornly promoted a separatist "Taiwan independence" stance, obstructed cross-Strait exchanges and stoked military tensions. His actions have undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait but he shifts the blame onto others. His so-called "defense of the status quo" is merely a deceptive cover for his pursuit of "Taiwan independence".

There is but one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. This is an undeniable fact supported by historical and legal foundations. The one-China principle is a fundamental norm governing international relations and is widely recognized by the international community.

Yet Lai has sought to blur the truth by labeling the mainland's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity as attempts to "change the status quo". This distortion aims to conceal his separatist ambitions and mislead both local and international public opinion. Attempts to distort the facts in pursuit of separatism are ultimately doomed to fail.

Lai has repeatedly made statements challenging the fundamental understanding that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China.

On Oct 10 this year, he went further by asserting that Taiwan's future "should be decided by the people of Taiwan". From peddling a "new two-state theory" to promoting the so-called "self-determination", he has crafted a political narrative of "one China, one Taiwan" and sought to create a legal pretext for "Taiwan independence".

Such provocations seriously undermine the shared interests of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

To advance his separatist agenda, Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have deliberately fueled confrontation and damaged the long-standing framework of cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

In March 2025, the mainland was labeled an "external hostile force" and 17 measures were introduced that tightened scrutiny of cross-Strait travel and exchanges, increased restrictions on cultural and academic exchanges, promoted a so-called "non-red supply chain" and pushed for "decoupling and de-risking" between the two sides.

The DPP authorities have stigmatized normal people-to-people exchanges across the Strait as infiltration under the pretext of "security", fueling confrontation and poisoning the atmosphere across the Strait.

These efforts to sever cross-Strait ties run counter to the shared desire for exchanges and cooperation among people on both sides.

The DPP authorities continue on the dangerous path of "seeking independence by relying on external forces" and "seeking independence through force", escalating military risks in the Taiwan Strait.

In November 2025, Lai proposed a special military budget of NT$1.25 trillion ($38.6 billion) for 2026-33, aimed at developing the T-Dome that is a multilayered air-defense system, asymmetric capabilities and long-range strike capabilities, while increasing military spending to 5 percent of the region's GDP by 2030.

By intensifying ties with external forces, Lai hopes to alter the balance of power in the Strait through outside intervention.

However, pursuing "independence through force" can only lead to conflict, while relying on external forces invites danger. Neither approach will succeed.

The international community broadly adheres to the one-China principle, with 183 countries having established diplomatic relations with China based on this principle.

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 resolved the issue of the representation of China at the United Nations. Faced with these realities, Lai's separatist ambitions can only end in futility.

Lai's separatist activities also face opposition from the residents of the island. The DPP's two failed recall campaigns in 2025 reflect the public's distrust, with polls showing a majority dissatisfied with its cross-Strait policies and desiring to keep channels of communication open. A TVBS poll also found that more than 60 percent of respondents wanted cross-Strait consultations and negotiations to resume. The direction of public opinion is clear.

Ultimately, the costs of "Taiwan independence" will be borne by Taiwan residents. Massive military spending will squeeze resources for public welfare, while restrictions on cross-Strait exchanges will harm people's everyday interests. The escalation of military tensions could push Taiwan closer to conflict.

Lai's provocations serve his political interests while leaving the island's society to bear the risks of war.

It shows that Lai is not a guardian of the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, but a source of disruption to its peace and stability.

Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are rooted in the one-China principle. Any attempt to split the country will be firmly thwarted.

The author is an associate professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Nanjing University.

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

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