Chinese Scholar: No Significant Change in Cross-Strait Relations for 2 Years After President Lai's 5/20 Speech

(CNA, Beijing, May 20, by reporter Chang Shu-ling) President Lai Ching-te delivered a speech today on the second anniversary of his administration, emphasizing the protection of democracy and freedom and maintaining the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait. A mainland Chinese scholar believes there will be no significant changes in cross-strait relations in the next two years. Bao Chengke, a researcher at the Shanghai Cross-Strait Research Association, told a CNA reporter that President Lai's speech was visibly influenced by recent remarks on Taiwan by former U.S. President Trump. Whether it's maintaining the peaceful status quo or democracy and freedom, these are 'terms acceptable to the United States.' After his visit to China, Trump stated in an interview aired on Fox News that he does not want to see Taiwan move toward independence but rather to maintain the status quo, and said that both China and Taiwan should de-escalate the situation. Trump also said that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed. However, Bao Chengke believes that President Lai's speech, 'while not mentioning Taiwan independence, shows the ideology of Taiwan independence.' Taiwan will hold its presidential election in 2028. Bao Chengke believes that in the next two years, there will be no significant changes in cross-strait relations, and the confrontational pattern will remain. But the mainland Chinese side will continue to promote the 10 measures introduced by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee in early April to advance exchanges with Taiwan's private sector. He said that Taiwan will next have its 'nine-in-one' local elections. After a slight easing in the first half of next year, it will enter the campaign period for the presidential election. Therefore, after June of next year, it will enter a more definite period of confrontation. President Lai delivered his second-anniversary speech today. He stated that Taiwan's future cannot be decided by external forces, nor can it be held hostage by fear, division, or short-term interests. Taiwan's future must be jointly decided by its 23 million people. He said that maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and preventing external forces from changing the status quo are Taiwan's national strategic goals. Taiwan is willing to engage in healthy and orderly exchanges with China on the principles of equality and dignity but firmly rejects unification efforts 'packaged as peace.' Peace, he said, depends on unity to strengthen national power, on a clear national will, and on close cooperation with international democratic partners, in order to achieve true peace through strength. President Lai said that in the 30 years of direct presidential elections, the people of Taiwan have proven to the world time and again with their votes: we cherish peace, but will not give up freedom; we are willing to talk, but will not accept being belittled; we pursue stability, but will not sacrifice our sovereignty and democratic way of life. This is Taiwan's bottom line and its clearest position to the world. (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150520