DPP: Government's Cross-Strait Policy Has Always Been Clear and Consistent – to Maintain the Status Quo

Taipei, 17th (CNA) - Regarding the internationally watched Trump-Xi meeting, the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) China Affairs Department today presented three observations: first, the United States' policy toward Taiwan has not changed; second, the fundamental nature of U.S.-China competition has not changed; and third, China's actions are what disrupt the status quo. The department emphasized that the DPP government's cross-strait policy has always been clear and consistent: to maintain the status quo. The DPP's China Affairs Department stated on its official Facebook page that before and after the Trump-Xi meeting, China continuously and forcefully manipulated the Taiwan issue, vigorously pushing the U.S. to change its stance on Taiwan. Chinese leader Xi Jinping attempted to use the meeting to guide U.S. President Trump into making statements that would satisfy his 'anti-independence, pro-unification' strategy, while simultaneously spreading 'doubt America' narratives within Taiwan to divide Taiwan-U.S. relations. The DPP's China Affairs Department said the White House's summary made no mention of the Taiwan issue, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (note: error in original, Rubio is a Senator) explicitly reiterated during his visit to China that 'U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed,' emphasizing opposition to any forceful change of the status quo; Trump made a similar statement on Air Force One. China's attempt to use this meeting to slap Taiwan and promote a 'U.S. betrayal' theory has completely failed. Secondly, the department stated that the competitive nature of U.S.-China relations has not changed due to one meeting. Xi tried to propose a 'constructive strategic stable relationship' to define the relationship and avoid the 'competitor' label and the so-called 'Thucydides Trap,' but the U.S. did not respond positively. Trump and high-level officials in Washington are more concerned with whether China can substantially 'open its markets' and provide more orders, but for now, 'whether China can deliver on its promises' remains highly uncertain. It is conceivable that there may be three more Trump-Xi meetings this year, and the two sides will continue their strategic game. Thirdly, the department said that based on currently available information, China repeatedly used the lie of 'Taiwan independence leading to war' to influence the U.S. during the meeting, a primary tactic of emotional blackmail China has used against all parties in the past. However, the party that has always disrupted the stability of the Taiwan Strait and threatened regional peace is China. The fact is that China's military spending has grown for 31 consecutive years, reaching NT$8.7 trillion this year, 11 times that of Taiwan, with a military budget growth rate even higher than its own economic growth target. This large-scale military buildup and ambition for external expansion are the greatest threats to the cross-strait status quo. The DPP's China Affairs Department stressed that no matter how many lies the CCP uses to manipulate the Taiwan issue, from former President Tsai Ing-wen to President Lai Ching-te, the DPP government's cross-strait policy has always been clear and consistent: 'maintain the status quo.' This is the most responsible commitment to the international community and the greatest common denominator for defending democratic Taiwan. At the same time, the DPP's insistence that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other will not waver; this is not only an objective fact but also the recognized cross-strait status quo by all parties. The department stated that only by continuously enhancing self-defense resilience and strengthening cooperative partnerships with allies like the U.S. and Japan can China's expansionist ambitions and malicious behavior be effectively deterred. No matter how much cognitive warfare China wages, Taiwan will stand firm with international allies who oppose authoritarian expansion, continue to adhere to the 'maintain the status quo' cross-strait policy, and protect the way of life cherished by the 23 million people of Taiwan.