Scholar: China's 'Benefiting Taiwan' Policy is Old Tactics, Economic Inducement Masks Military Intimidation
On April 13, 2026, Zhang Jun-hao, Director of the Department of Political Science at Tunghai University, stated that the cross-strait policies announced by China's Taiwan Affairs Office are 'old tunes' designed to use economic incentives to conceal military threats. DPP spokesperson Wu Zheng criticized China's opaque quarantine system for Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products as political manipulation. Zhang Jun-hao also noted that encouraging Taiwanese investment serves to support China's slowing economy and highlighted that China's military activities continued even during KMT Chairman Zheng Li-wen's visit, indicating a 'soft-hard' approach. He criticized Zheng Li-wen for echoing China's narrative, contrasting her use of 'General Secretary Xi' with former President Ma Ying-jeou's 'Mr. Xi,' suggesting it could mislead the international community.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 16:26
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:31 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 17:11 (39 min after Collected)
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee recently announced several cross-strait policy measures. On April 13, 2026, during the DPP's '午青LIVE' program, Zhang Jun-hao, Director of the Department of Political Science at Tunghai University, characterized these 'benefiting Taiwan' policies as a rehash of old tactics. He asserted that these policies are a united front strategy by the Chinese Communist Party, using economic inducements to mask underlying military intimidation.
DPP spokesperson Wu Zheng, also on '午青LIVE,' stated that China's quarantine system for agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan lacks transparency and is often driven by political considerations rather than professional review. He referenced past instances where Taiwanese businesses investing in China faced adverse effects from subsidy policies, asset immobilization, and difficult operational environments.
Zhang Jun-hao further explained that in the context of China's decelerating economic growth, encouraging Taiwanese business investment essentially provides economic support to China. He pointed out that despite KMT Chairman Zheng Li-wen's visit to China, the CCP continued unannounced military exercises, with military aircraft and vessels frequently encroaching on Taiwan's airspace and waters. This demonstrates that the concepts of 'benefiting Taiwan' and 'peace' are merely components of a coercive 'soft-hard' strategy.
Zhang Jun-hao questioned Zheng Li-wen's public statements, suggesting that she not only failed to advocate for Taiwan's interests but fully aligned with China's narrative. He drew a comparison to former President Ma Ying-jeou, who addressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping as 'Mr. Xi,' whereas Zheng Li-wen now refers to him as 'General Secretary Xi.' Zhang concluded that this shift in rhetoric completely synchronizes with China's stance and risks misguiding the international community, potentially leading Taiwan into a difficult geopolitical situation.
DPP spokesperson Wu Zheng, also on '午青LIVE,' stated that China's quarantine system for agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan lacks transparency and is often driven by political considerations rather than professional review. He referenced past instances where Taiwanese businesses investing in China faced adverse effects from subsidy policies, asset immobilization, and difficult operational environments.
Zhang Jun-hao further explained that in the context of China's decelerating economic growth, encouraging Taiwanese business investment essentially provides economic support to China. He pointed out that despite KMT Chairman Zheng Li-wen's visit to China, the CCP continued unannounced military exercises, with military aircraft and vessels frequently encroaching on Taiwan's airspace and waters. This demonstrates that the concepts of 'benefiting Taiwan' and 'peace' are merely components of a coercive 'soft-hard' strategy.
Zhang Jun-hao questioned Zheng Li-wen's public statements, suggesting that she not only failed to advocate for Taiwan's interests but fully aligned with China's narrative. He drew a comparison to former President Ma Ying-jeou, who addressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping as 'Mr. Xi,' whereas Zheng Li-wen now refers to him as 'General Secretary Xi.' Zhang concluded that this shift in rhetoric completely synchronizes with China's stance and risks misguiding the international community, potentially leading Taiwan into a difficult geopolitical situation.