DPP: Only China Wants 'Authoritarian Unification' to Change Taiwan Strait Status Quo

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) China Affairs Department stated today that the DPP's clear and consistent cross-strait position is to "maintain the status quo" and to fully safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region. It asserted that only China in the entire world wants to change the peaceful and stable status quo of the Taiwan Strait through "authoritarian unification."

In a Facebook post today, the DPP's China Affairs Department stated that around the time of the "Trump-Xi meeting," the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities have been continuously attempting to conduct cognitive warfare against the United States and the world using baseless accusations of "Taiwan independence."

The department said that the DPP government's cross-strait policy is to "maintain the status quo," a stance that has been clear, consistent, and unwavering from former President Tsai Ing-wen to President Lai Ching-te. In this year's May 20th inaugural address, President Lai reiterated that "maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and preventing external forces from changing the status quo is Taiwan's national strategic goal." The DPP government is steadfast in defending Taiwan's sovereignty, dignity, security, and democratic way of life, while not giving up on extending goodwill to China. "Maintaining the status quo" is not only highly recognized and trusted by the international community but is also the greatest common denominator of public opinion in Taiwan.

The DPP's China Affairs Department stated that the party's current cross-strait position follows the 1999 "Resolution on Taiwan's Future": Taiwan is already a sovereign and independent country named the Republic of China, but it is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China. Any change to the current state of independence must be decided by a referendum of all residents of Taiwan.

The department further emphasized that in the "Resolution on Taiwan's Future," the DPP advocates that Taiwan and China are two countries that are geographically close, economically mutually beneficial, and culturally share common origins, and they cannot remain forever hostile and set up barriers against each other. It also declared that the ultimate goal of the DPP's China policy is to establish a relationship with China that is mutually beneficial rather than discriminatory, peaceful rather than confrontational, and on an equal footing rather than subordinate.

The DPP's China Affairs Department said that this has been the DPP's firm stance on "maintaining the status quo" for nearly 30 years. It has not only achieved a high degree of consensus within the party but has also become a "Taiwan consensus" widely supported by over 85% of the people in Taiwan.

The department stated that among the three options of "maintaining the status quo," "authoritarian unification," and "Taiwan independence," the Taiwan government has been firmly on the path of "maintaining the status quo," earning support from international democratic partners including the United States, Japan, and the European Union.

The DPP's China Affairs Department said that the Chinese authorities' deliberate efforts to push for "authoritarian unification" are, in essence, a desire to "change the status quo" and "destroy the status quo." Furthermore, they intend to use "peace to package unification" to weaken Taiwan's self-defense, all to achieve their aggressive intentions and expansionist ambitions in the Taiwan Strait and the region. They even continuously manipulate the non-existent issue of "Taiwan independence" to fabricate so-called "legitimacy" as a pretext for verbal attacks and military intimidation against Taiwan.

The department stated that regarding a potential phone call between former U.S. President Donald Trump and President Lai, President Lai will also express to Trump that "peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential elements for world security and prosperity, that the Taiwan government maintains the status quo with dignity and without being overbearing, and that Taiwan is also a guardian of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

The DPP's China Affairs Department emphasized that the DPP will continue to adhere to the cross-strait position of "maintaining the status quo," strengthen its self-defense capabilities, and deepen cooperation with international partners to jointly ensure and protect Taiwan's democracy, freedom, and the peaceful and stable status quo in the Taiwan Strait.