President Lai's 5/20 Speech: A Lesson in Cross-Strait Differences Through Direct Elections, Say Scholars

(CNA reporter Li Ya-wen, Taipei, 20th) President Lai Ching-te delivered his second anniversary-of-ruling speech this morning. Scholars believe the speech mentioned the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis and the first direct presidential election, using these examples to illustrate the differences and divergences in the systems across the strait, implying that 'unification' is an impossibility. In his speech this morning, President Lai stated that 30 years ago, the people of Taiwan, fearless of Beijing's missile threats, completed the first direct presidential election, turning the Republic of China, Taiwan, into a fully democratized new country where sovereignty resides with the people. He reiterated that the government has been dedicated to safeguarding a democratic and free way of life over the past two years, stating, 'Taiwan's future cannot be decided by an external force.' Maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and preventing external forces from changing the status quo is a national strategic goal. Taiwan is a responsible member of the international community, not a party that undermines stability, and firmly rejects united front tactics of 'unification packaged as peace.' Wang Hung-jen, a professor in the Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University, told CNA that President Lai's speech used the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis and the first direct presidential election as examples to explain the differences in democratic systems and lifestyles across the strait, implying that 'unification' is impossible and echoing his previous public statements that 'neither side of the strait is subordinate to the other.' Wang Hung-jen believes that President Lai's speech attempts to send a message to the international community that 'Taiwan is the defender of the status quo.' The government's position on maintaining the status quo has not changed, and all current democratic defense actions are aimed at preventing the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait from being altered; the CCP is the party trying to change the status quo. He mentioned that the beginning of President Lai's second anniversary-of-ruling speech addressed the Taiwan Strait and national security, partly because the CCP has intensified its harassment of Taiwan through gray-zone activities over the past two years, increasing the sense of threat in Taiwanese society. President Lai's overall tone was moderate, but he showed a resolute side during the Q&A session with reporters. Chang Kuo-cheng, a professor at Taipei Medical University's Center for General Education, pointed out to CNA that the national security team clearly understands that the CCP's threat and ambitions towards Taiwan are different from the past. Mentioning the Taiwan Strait and national security at the beginning of the speech carried a warning, reminding Taiwanese society that the CCP's threat to Taiwan has always existed and that it faces threats now, just as it did during the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis. Chang Kuo-cheng believes that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent visit to South Korea, emphasizing strengthening cooperation and responding to unstable situations, shows that countries surrounding Taiwan are on high alert regarding regional security issues. Beijing often expresses a 'displeased' attitude on Taiwan-related issues, and it is necessary to pay attention to whether these expressions will escalate and intensify.