China Vows to ‘Crush’ Taiwan Amid Push for Independence

Clear Facts

• Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te is running for president amidst threats from China, which warns of “extreme danger” if he wins.
• Opposition candidate Hou Yu-ih, known for his pro-Beijing stance, is providing a tight competition to Lai.
• China’s threats have significantly influenced the election debate, with Taiwanese citizens voicing their desire for peace over war.

Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te recently concluded his presidential campaign by positioning himself as the security candidate, despite China’s warning of “extreme danger” if he emerges victorious.

“Each of your ballots will help safeguard Taiwan,” Lai told his supporters at an election eve rally in Tainan, a city on Taiwan’s southern coast. He further emphasized that every vote would help unify the nation and make progress.

Lai, the heir-apparent to term-limited Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, finds himself in a tighter-than-expected race against Hou Yu-ih, a leading opposition candidate with a pro-Beijing reputation. The election debate within Taiwan has been overshadowed by Chinese Communist pressure tactics aimed at undermining Lai’s candidacy.

Dr. Lily McElwee, deputy director of China studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the candidates’ foreign policy positions don’t differ significantly. All candidates suggest maintaining the status quo, investing in Taiwan’s defense to deter China, and varying levels of communication and cooperation with Beijing.

As polls opened at 8 a.m. Saturday morning local time, Taiwanese voters were faced with these options under the looming threat of conflict with China, should they choose to promote Tsai’s longtime ally.

Col. Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese defense ministry spokesman, warned, “The People’s Liberation Army is on high vigilance at all times and will take all necessary measures to resolutely crush any form of secessionist designs for ‘Taiwan independence’ and to firmly defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.”

This rhetoric is seen as a condemnation of Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party, which originated as a pro-independence movement dissenting from the martial law regime established by Republic of China leader Chiang Kai-shek on the island after the Chinese Communist Party overthrew his nationalist Kuomintang government.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated, “‘Taiwan independence’ is the biggest threat to cross-Strait peace and stability and is doomed to failure.” She further added that regardless of the election result, it will not change the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China and there is only one China in the world.

Chinese Communist officials have increased military activity around Taiwan since August 2022, when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei over Beijing’s objections. They have used military gestures and economic pressure to signal their preference and raise the perceived stakes of a victory by Lai.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office expressed hope that the majority of Taiwan compatriots recognize the extreme harm of the DPP’s ‘Taiwan independence’ line and the extreme danger of Lai Ching-te’s triggering of cross-Strait confrontation and conflict. The office urged the Taiwanese to make the right choice at the crossroads of cross-Strait relations.

The influence of China’s threats on the election debate is evident as Taiwanese citizens at a KMT rally chanted “We want peace, not war” to voice their opposition to Lai. Hou Yu-ih, during a December 30 debate, said, “Under the DPP government, we see the status quo that is on the verge of war. We need the KMT to stabilize the situation across the Taiwan Strait so that we can [be] pro-the U. S. and be friendly with China.”

Relations between the Chinese Communist Party and Taiwan have been strained in recent years as Tsai has insisted that any negotiations over the status of the island democracy must be held “on the basis of equality, instead of using suppression and intimidation to get Taiwanese to submit.” Hou argues that “interaction will lead to de-escalation,” but he felt obliged to promise this week that he would not discuss “the unification issue” with Chinese Communist officials if elected.

Lai made a popular statement of his strategic orientation when he chose Taiwan’s top envoy to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, to return from Washington and run for vice president on his ticket. Dr. McElwee said, “Policymakers in the United States are assessing that they can work with any of these candidates. [Lai] will continue President Tsai’s pretty pragmatic stance of not declaring independence. So … there’s not a huge amount of daylight between the policies of each party toward cross-strait relations and foreign policy more broadly.”

Clear Thoughts (op-ed)

The threatening rhetoric from China towards Taiwan’s electoral process is an alarming manifestation of Beijing’s disregard for democratic values. Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te is courageously running for president amidst these threats, positioning himself as the security candidate who can safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty.

This election is not just about Taiwan, but a reflection of the global struggle between autocracy and democracy. The Chinese Communist Party’s pressure tactics to influence the Taiwanese electorate are an affront to democratic values, and should be condemned by the international community.

As Taiwanese citizens voice their desire for peace over war, it’s crucial to remember that peace cannot be achieved through submission to threats. It’s essential that the international community stands in solidarity with Taiwan, defending its right to self-determination.

China’s increased military activity and economic pressure around Taiwan are not just threats to this island democracy, but to the global order. The world should keep a vigilant eye on Taiwan’s elections and be ready to defend democratic values.

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