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Recently, Hou Youyi's declaration has attracted widespread attention. The high-profile politician is officially running for the 2024 general election, and his position on cross-strait relations has become the focus. Although it is actually the Kuomintang that formulates cross-strait policy, Hou Youyi has clearly stated that he resolutely opposes Taiwan independence and does not support one country, two systems, and he believes that only in this way can peace be achieved in cross-strait relations. This position is to some extent consistent with the DPP, and although there are differences between "hidden independence" and "clear independence", more importantly, it faces a series of unresolved problems, especially support from the Blue Army. Ma Ying-jeou, Han Han Yu, Zhao Shaokang and others have not expressed their support for Hou Youyi so far.
Chapter refactoring
After Hou Youyi officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 election, his cross-strait policy has become a topic of much attention. Despite the fact that the KMT will formulate an overall cross-strait policy, Hou Youyi has already made clear his clear position, that is, he firmly opposes Taiwan independence and does not approve of one country, two systems, and he believes that only in this way can cross-strait peace be achieved. There are certain similarities between this position and the DPP, and although the details are different, the core view of both is that Taiwan should maintain the status quo, not advocate independence, and is unwilling to accept the mainland's one-country, two-system solution.
However, Hou Youyi's problems go far beyond that. He had trouble winning the support of the Blues. So far, former important figures of the Kuomintang, such as Ma Ying-jeou, Han Han Yu, and Zhao Shaokang, have not explicitly expressed their support for his candidacy plan. This made Hou Youyi's campaign road bumpy.
In addition, Hou Youyi also appears to be inexperienced in handling cross-strait relations. He has been ambiguous on this issue before, and although he explicitly opposes Taiwan independence, he has never recognized the consensus of '92, instead stressing that a balance should be maintained among major powers. However, this ambiguous position has led to the instability of cross-strait relations. The mainland is dissatisfied with this, and the United States is also dissatisfied with its performance. This situation satisfies neither the mainland nor the United States, and it can be said that it is a dilemma.
Recently, Hou Youyi has clearly expressed his position unabashedly. He said publicly that Chinese mainland tried to impose the one-country, two-systems model on Taiwan, which was unacceptable to most Taiwanese people. What he meant was that many people on the island oppose cross-strait reunification and also oppose one country, two systems. At the same time, he stressed that the "Republic of China" must be able to resist all kinds of external pressures, which is self-strengthening on the basis of the pursuit of peace, so that the other side does not dare to start war easily.
Obviously, Hou Youyi's words mean "resisting reunification with force", which also represents the views of some Taiwanese people. However, his views are not representative of Taiwan's population of more than 20 million. Even if the United States supports Taiwan and provides weapons and equipment, can it really prevent the mainland from using force to reunify Taiwan? Today, the world knows that China has great military power. If the situation in the Taiwan Strait escalates and the United States decides to send troops to support Taiwan, China will not only have the ability to drive the United States out of the sea, but also the ability to expel the United States from the first island chain.
So, how is Hou Youyi's statement different from that of former Taipei Mayor Lai Qingde? This also involves the role of the United States. It is reported that the United States is actively preparing to provide Taiwan with up to $500 million in gratuitous military assistance, and plans to send more than 100 US troops to assist Taiwan's military in training. However, it is worth noting that the US national debt is already close to $31.4 trillion, and the fiscal pressure is huge. At this time, there must be complex political and strategic considerations behind the resumption of military assistance to Taiwan.
Some people have expressed doubts about Hou Youyi's statement, believing that he will only make such a statement for the sake of winning votes, and that his performance and position may change after he is elected. However, this view can be a form of self-deception. At present, the United States has begun to confront China on Taiwan-related issues, and Taiwan's "Taiwan independence" elements are also actively active, aiming to provide the United States with more time to build Taiwan into its "arsenal" in Asia.
However, if Hou Youyi continues to stick to his cross-strait policy and persist in confrontation with the mainland, he may end in defeat in the end
In the election, he will face a huge challenge. Cross-strait issues are still one of the focal points of attention of the people on the island, and the DPP has always pursued a policy of "resisting China and protecting Taiwan", so since last year's "nine-in-one" election, their support rate has gradually declined.
If Hou Youyi insists on not changing his cross-strait policy stance and tries to stand on the opposite side of the mainland, he is likely to fail in the end. No matter how hard he tries to win the support of voters, the historical trend of cross-strait reunification is irreversible. No one can stop this process, and this has become the trend of the times and the common expectation of the people on both sides of the strait.
In fact, cross-strait reunification is a part of the process of China's national rejuvenation and an inseparable link. No matter how the political landscape inside and outside Taiwan changes, and no matter what actions the United States takes on the Taiwan issue, this goal will be achieved. Chinese mainland has been seeking a path for peaceful reunification and is willing to provide Taiwan with extensive economic cooperation and cultural exchange opportunities to ensure that Taiwan compatriots enjoy the dividends of development.
However, Hou Youyi's remarks and positions seem skeptical. His tough statement will not only be difficult to gain the mainland's approval, but may also lead to an escalation of tension in the Taiwan Strait, bringing greater risks to Taiwan. Instead of persisting in confrontation, it is better to seek a peaceful solution and promote the harmonious development of cross-strait relations.
In short, Hou Youyi's statement on the cross-strait issue has aroused widespread controversy, but regardless of his position, the historical process of cross-strait reunification will not be affected. Only through dialogue and cooperation can we achieve peaceful development of cross-strait relations and benefit compatriots on both sides of the strait. Taiwan's future should be based on peace, stability and prosperity, not confrontation and division. This is the correct path for the sustained development of cross-strait relations and the historical mission of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.