Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivered the second speech of his 'Ten Talks on National Unity' on Tuesday, stating that through repeated elections and recalls, 'impurities' should be removed and a steel-like will to defend sovereignty and safeguard democracy should be forged.
According to Taiwanese media reports, on the 24th, Lai Ching-te attended the Taoyuan City Hakka Youth Association forum, launching the second talk of the 'Ten Talks on National Unity,' with unity as the main theme.
Lai Ching-te said that the 'Four Persistences' put forth by former President Tsai Ing-wen during her tenure have been recognized by more than 80% of the people, becoming the largest common denominator among the Taiwanese population. As for how to exert the power of this 80% public opinion, he believes it must be tempered through democracy to generate 'the power of national unity.' 'Through repeated elections and recalls, ballot by ballot, as if forging a sword by pounding iron, repeatedly hammering, a thousand trials and a hundred refinings, impurities will be removed, forging a steel-like will to defend sovereignty and safeguard democracy.'
Lai Ching-te continued, saying that the greatest common denominator for unity in Taiwan is finding unity amidst differences and that the ruling and opposition parties should defend Taiwan's sovereignty and protect its democratic constitutional system, 'oppose the Chinese Communist Party, oppose aggression, and oppose annexation.'
He emphasized, ''Republic of China''-leaning factions oppose the Communist Party, and Taiwan-leaning factions safeguard Taiwan. 'Those who don't oppose the Communist Party are not truly 'Republic of China' factions, and those who don't protect Taiwan are not really pro-Taiwan.' By opposing the Communist Party and protecting Taiwan, Taiwan's progress can be promoted and annexation can also be resisted.
● Taiwan Affairs Office: Lai Ching-te's Speech Is a 'Taiwan Independence' Confession in Action
In response to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's 'Ten Talks on National Unity' second speech on Tuesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office responded on Wednesday, stating that Lai Ching-te's speech is a confessional act of 'Taiwan independence' and criticized him for loudly agitating to reinforce 'Taiwan independence' sentiment.
The Taiwan Affairs Office held a routine press conference on the 25th. Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian, when responding to questions about Lai Ching-te's speech on the 24th, said that Lai Ching-te's speech was effectively a confessional act of 'Taiwan independence,' and condemned him for loudly agitating to strengthen 'Taiwan independence' identity.
Zhu Fenglian pointed out that in his speech, Lai Ching-te reiterated old tunes of 'Taiwan independence,' attempting to create hatred and discontent, intensify social division in Taiwan, and build up an anti-China and anti-Communist atmosphere. This was done to suppress opposition forces and make political momentum for a major recall movement; once again rehashing the notion of 'mutual non-subordination' across the strait and the 'new two-state theory,' deliberately provoking, and escalating cross-strait tensions; recklessly smearing cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, slandering the public's hopes for peace and stability and the goodwill and sincerity of mainland China for compatriots as 'united front infiltration threats,' and actively manipulating 'resisting China, safeguarding Taiwan,' to incite heightened cross-strait confrontation.
Zhu Fenglian said, ''Taiwan independence'' is a dead end, Taiwan's future lies in national reunification, and the well-being of Taiwan compatriots is tied to national rejuvenation. Only by jointly promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and working together to achieve complete national reunification can the broad path for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and improving the welfare of compatriots be realized. This is also the right choice to promote harmony and stability in Taiwanese society and ensure that Taiwan compatriots can live and work in peace and contentment.