It is “absolutely impossible” for the People’s Republic of China ruled by the Communist Party of China since 1949 to become Taiwan’s motherland because the island’s government is older, Taiwan’s secessionist-minded Lai Ching-te said on Saturday in a carefully timed speech that underscores the intense historical rivalry between the two.
Lai made the remarks at a concert in Taipei on Saturday during the National Day holiday of the Chinese mainland with the intent of infuriating Beijing by alleging that Taiwan is already a “sovereign and independent country”, whose government ruled the Chinese mainland for decades before relocating to Taiwan when the CPC came to power.
“If anyone in Taiwan wants to say happy birthday to the PRC, please do not call it the motherland.” Lai made the comments after some Taiwan actors recently said happy birthday to the PRC, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding on Oct 1.
That the Democratic Progressive Party leader’s provocative comments immediately drew criticism from compatriots on the island, including the Kuomintang, for needlessly stoking tensions with the mainland indicates the residents of Taiwan have seen through the secessionist nature of his “motherland fallacy”.
As State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said, no matter what kind of “historical paradox” or “Taiwan independence” narrative Lai puts forward, he cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, nor can he extinguish the sense of motherland among Taiwan compatriots.
Lai’s rhetoric distorts concepts and confuses right and wrong. By attempting to highlight the political differences across the Taiwan Strait, Lai is deliberately trying to sever the historical connections between the mainland and the island, and peddle the “two-state” rhetoric by constantly hyping that the two sides are “not subordinate” to each other, which exposes his stubborn “Taiwan independence” stance and the malicious intent to escalate hostility and confrontation.
Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, China’s sovereignty and territory have never been severed and cannot be severed, and the fact that the mainland and Taiwan both belong to one China has never changed and cannot be changed.
On Oct 1, 1949, the PRC was founded, becoming the successor to the Republic of China (1912-49), and the Central People’s Government became the only legitimate government of the whole of China. The government of the PRC therefore exercises full sovereignty over the whole of China, which includes sovereignty over Taiwan.
That Taiwan is China’s territory is an incontrovertible historical and jurisprudential fact. Zhu said, it is hoped that the vast number of Taiwan compatriots will recognize the tactics of Lai and the DPP authorities in pursuing “independence”, resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence” and external interference, firmly safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation, and strive to maintain peace and stability.